PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — The Department of Children and Families is investigating the death of a 5-week-old infant in Palm Beach County.
DCF said the child's mother woke up on New Year's Day just before 9 a.m. and found the baby unresponsive. It appears he was sleeping with his mother and sibling in the same bed, according to investigators.
DCF said the child was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:24 a.m. His cause of death is unknown.
A DCF investigator said the exact details surrounding the death are unclear because of inconsistent statements.
The Department of Children and Families said it currently has two other open investigations into the family, including one involving the infant reportedly falling off a bed.
The most recent investigation was called in on Dec. 31, just one day before the child's death, and the other came on Dec. 19.
DCF said it also investigated the family in October and May of last year, as well as in 2017, 2016, and 2014. All of those cases were closed.
"The loss of this child is devastating, and the department has offered support services as the family mourns the death of their child," DCF spokesperson DaMonica Smith said in a statement to WPTV. "DCF has opened a child death investigations to review the family’s previous interactions with the child welfare system. Anyone responsible for this child’s death will be held accountable."