Police looking into death of Walsenburg infant

by Eric Mullens
WALSENBURG —  Walsenburg police are investigating the death of a infant girl reported early Sunday morning from a residence in the 200 block of West Pennsylvania Avenue.
According to a press release issued by Walsenburg City Administrator David Johnston, police and medical personnel were called to the residence at approximately 5:30 am September 20 on a report of a one month old child who was not breathing. “When the police and paramedics arrived on scene they continued CPR all the way to the hospital but the baby girl did not survive,” Johnston said in the press release Monday afternoon.
An autopsy was conducted Monday at the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office in Colorado Springs attended by Huerfano County Coroner Vonnie Valdez and WPD Captain Vince Suarez.  Valdez said there are no results yet from the procedure and her findings “will all be based on toxicology results.”  Valdez said the toxicology report should be completed within six to eight weeks.
“It’s still under investigation,” Walsenburg Police Chief Tommie McLallen said Tuesday, “we have to do our due diligence, make sure we are thorough, and we do everything by the book.”
Police are not releasing many details of the investigation but confirm the home was searched and some items removed for investigative purposes.
Police crime scene tape surrounded the front of the home and a police officer was assigned to stand by the residence from the time of the initial call Sunday morning through about 3 pm Monday, September 21.