January 23, 2008
Lakewood police: Baby's death an accident
By MATT PAIS
MANAHAWKIN BUREAU
Police say there is nothing suspicious surrounding the death of a 13-month-old girl who apparently was strangled to death Sunday by a window blind cord.
Police officers were dispatched to the home of the Helberg family on Kelm Woods Avenue at 2:59 p.m., said Lt. Joseph Isnardi. When officers arrived, the baby, whose first name was not released, had already been taken to Kimball Medical Center by members of the Lakewood Hatzolah EMS squad.
The child was pronounced dead at the hospital a short while later.
"(Hatzolah) did a good job. They just couldn't bring her back," Isnardi said.
An examination performed by a member of the Ocean County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the cause of death to be accidental strangulation, Isnardi said.
Police did not release any further details about the death other than to say it involved the blind cord. Isnardi said members of the baby's family were home at the time of the incident, and the child was not left unattended.
"There doesn't appear to be any foul play. It was certainly accidental," he said, adding that the investigation was continuing.
Patrolman Michael Anderson and Sgt. Thomas D'Elia are the investigating officers on the case.
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