Published: July 14, 2008 11:57 pm            

Police investigating infant’s death

Police were investigating an infant’s death and a suspicious house fire in rural Westfield, Ill.

The fire occurred Wednesday and was under investigation when officials learned the residents of the home were expecting a baby, according to Illinois State Police in Effingham.

Authorities could not find a baby and determined the mother was no longer pregnant. A search was conducted using cadaver dogs, and a deceased male newborn was found near the dwelling in a wooded area on Saturday.

An autopsy was performed on the deceased infant Monday. Dr. Roland Kohr conducted the autopsy but could not comment on the Illinois case.

Lt. Thomas Oliverio of the Illinois State Police said he could not release any names and no arrests have been made. Officials also weren’t releasing autopsy results. “We’ll probably need to have lab results from the autopsy,” he said.

State Police did not become involved in the investigation until Friday.

“We weren’t called in until two days after the fire,” Oliverio said.

The Illinois State Police, Illinois State Fire Marshall, Clark County Sheriff’s Department, Clark County State’s Attorney and Clark County Coroner were investigating. No further information was available Monday afternoon, and each agency referred calls to Illinois State Police.

        

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