Paramedics Find Visible Injuries On Greeley Infant Who Died
GREELEY, Colo. (CBS4) - Police in Greeley are investigating the death of a 4-month-old boy.
According to Sgt. Joseph Tymkowych with Greeley police, on Sunday just after midnight officers responded to an apartment in the 2800 block of 28th Street on a call about an infant who wasn't breathing.
"Officers entered the apartment building and found that the child was unconscious and not breathing," Tymkowych said in a statement. "CPR was started on the child and continued by paramedics upon their arrival on scene."
Tymkowych said the child, identified as Donovan Nathan Archuleta, was transported to Northern Colorado Medical Center and then flown to Children's Hospital in Aurora where he died.
"The Weld County coroner responded to Children's Hospital and took possession of the body and returned it to Greeley," Tymkowych said. "The investigation continues with the autopsy performed on Monday and the results pending, and cause and manner of death have not been determined at this time."
Responding officers and paramedics noted that there were visible injuries on the child and investigators suspect child abuse in his death.
Four other children in the family were placed into protective custody. Tymkowych said officers collected evidence from the apartment after obtaining a search warrant.
The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.
CBS4's Lauren DiSpirito on Tuesday talked with various family members who are quarrelling about the infant's death. They say the baby's mother is Angelica Chavez and his father is Robert Nathan Archuleta. Chavez's four other children are from different fathers and some of their families are fighting to keep Chavez away from the children.
"I just want justice for the baby. The baby needs a voice; he needs somebody to stand up for him. He's no longer with us and we've got to do everything in our power to make sure the right thing happens to the right person," said Denise Velasquez, grandmother of one of Chavez's other children.
So far CBS4 has been unable to get a comment from Chavez. She was escorted from a custody hearing by police with a jacket covering her face Tuesday afternoon and refused to comment. Tymkowych would not specifically name Chavez as a suspect. He said that right now "there are no suspects," but anyone who has taken care of the baby recently is a "person of interest."
Family members released balloons in memory of the young child outside of court.
Police are still trying to figure out who had physical custody of the baby over the past few weeks and where the suspected abuse happened.