Police: Chicago Heights infant’s death appears accidental
January 13, 2013 9:50PM
Maps
Updated: February 16, 2013 6:12AM
A 2-month-old Chicago Heights girl who died Sunday appears to have accidentally suffocated, police said Monday.
The infant was sleeping on her stomach in a crib with an adult-size pillow, and there were no signs of abuse, Chicago Heights Police Sgt. Joseph Bruni said.
Danae Billups was found unresponsive at 11 a.m. Sunday at her home in the 600 block of Union Avenue, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Danae was pronounced dead at St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights at 12:08 p.m. The official cause of her death is pending additional studies, police and the medical examiner’s office said Monday.
The state Department of Children and Family Services on Sunday was investigating allegations of neglect against the mother, spokesman Jimmie Whitelow said. DCFS officials could not be reached Monday for an update on the investigation.
DCFS had no previous contact with the family, Whitelow said.
Contributing: Sun-Times Media, Susan DeMar Lafferty
