INDIANAPOLIS -- A 2-year-old boy was pronounced dead after he was found unresponsive beneath his passed out mother at an Indianapolis motel room early Wednesday morning, police said.
The boy, identified as Sheldon Bartley Jr., was taken to Community East Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:10 a.m., police said.
According to Indianapolis Metro police, the boyfriend of Latasha McMorris, 24, called 911 at about 12:30 a.m. when he found McMorris passed out and lying on top of the child in room 104 of the EconoLodge Motel in the 3500 block of North Shadeland Avenue.
The boyfriend, whose identity was not immediately released, told police that the boy was not breathing when he found him. Officials said they believe the boy was suffocated.
Investigators said they think McMorris had been under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs when she passed out.
Police said they are treating the case as a homicide and that McMorris was being held on a charge of felony neglect. An autopsy was planned Wednesday to determine what caused Bartley's death.
Investigators said McMorris was convicted of child neglect in July 2007. Child Protective Services removed McMorris' children, including Bartley, from her custody when she was convicted, police said.
According to officials, McMorris also has several prior arrests on alcohol-related offenses.
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/15230746/detail.html
The boy, identified as Sheldon Bartley Jr., was taken to Community East Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:10 a.m., police said.
According to Indianapolis Metro police, the boyfriend of Latasha McMorris, 24, called 911 at about 12:30 a.m. when he found McMorris passed out and lying on top of the child in room 104 of the EconoLodge Motel in the 3500 block of North Shadeland Avenue.
The boyfriend, whose identity was not immediately released, told police that the boy was not breathing when he found him. Officials said they believe the boy was suffocated.
Investigators said they think McMorris had been under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs when she passed out.
Police said they are treating the case as a homicide and that McMorris was being held on a charge of felony neglect. An autopsy was planned Wednesday to determine what caused Bartley's death.
Investigators said McMorris was convicted of child neglect in July 2007. Child Protective Services removed McMorris' children, including Bartley, from her custody when she was convicted, police said.
According to officials, McMorris also has several prior arrests on alcohol-related offenses.
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/15230746/detail.html