Charges likely in 6-year-old’s death

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

LEVY

Prosecutors say there is a good possibility criminal charges will result from the mysterious death of a 6-year-old girl this June.

The extent of those charges and the person or persons who may face the charges was not revealed Thursday in the announcement by District Attorney General Dale Potter. His announcement came in connection with the ongoing investigation into the unexpected death of a 6-year-old Kings Ridge girl in June who reportedly died at the home of her guardian.

First responders and ambulance personnel arrived at the home after dispatchers received a call there was a child not breathing at the residence. Attempts to resuscitate the child were unsuccessful.

The name of the guardian or guardians, nor the name of the child, has been revealed by lawmen. The biological family of the child requested an obituary not be published in the newspaper. The Southern Standard has a paid obituary service, meaning families of the deceased determine if an obituary will appear in the paper.

“We do have a preliminary opinion as to what caused the child’s death,” said Potter, noting he could not divulge the preliminary information to the public. “But, the pathologist wants more time to get all his reports in before he makes a final determination. That could still be a couple of weeks. Things like toxicology tests take a little time.”

State Pathologist Dr. Bruce Levy is conducting the forensic probe of the child’s death. His findings could be presented to a future session of the grand jury, possibly as early as September.

Initially Potter did not believe charges would surface from the girl’s death. However, autopsy information has changed his mind.