Police, BCI investigating after infant found dead

Published 7:50 pm Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Child found dead when officers arrived at Spruce Street home

9:49 p.m.

Ironton police and investigators were on the scene at a residence near the corner of Spruce and Tenth streets on Tuesday, after police received a 911 call reporting an infant believed dead in the home.

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Police chief Pam Wagner said the call, made by a neighbor, came in around 4 p.m.

She said, when officers arrived, they found the infant dead in the home and Lawrence County EMS and the city fire department were called.

The child was declared deceased and the county coroner was notified.

Wagner said investigators from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation were also contacted and were on the scene for several hours. The Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office was also notified.

Spruce Street was blocked off by crime scene tape and closed to traffic.

Wagner said the scene was being treated as a criminal investigation, as is procedure in such a circumstance.

“Until it’s proven differently,” she said.

An autopsy will be performed on the infant.

Wagner said no details on the infant’s age and identity were being released at this time. No one was reported in custody and Wagner said everyone has been cooperative in the investigation so far.

She said, to her knowledge, there had been no history of problems at the home.

A search warrant had been obtained for the home. Wagner said the investigation is in its preliminary stages and more information will be coming in the next day.

— Check back with the Tribune for updates.

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7:50 p.m.

Ironton police were on the scene at a residence near the corner of Spruce and Tenth streets, along with investigators from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, on Tuesday.

Officers, led by chief Pam Wagner had been at the location since at least 5 p.m. Lawrence County Prosecutor Brigham Anderson was also on scene.

Spruce Street was blocked off by crime scene tape and closed to traffic.

Wagner said the department had no details to release, as of 7:45 p.m., as officers were waiting to execute a search warrant.