BANGOR, Maine — The autopsy of the baby boy who died this week on Allen Street was completed Wednesday and is inconclusive but not suspicious, Bangor police Sgt. Paul Edwards said.
“An autopsy performed this morning on an infant baby from 92 Allen St. [who died] yesterday is deemed not to be suspicious and the cause of death is pending due to toxicology tests that could take several weeks,” the sergeant said.
“The autopsy is done but it’s pending further study,” Mark Belserene, administrator of the state medical examiner’s office said earlier in the day. “It will probably be a couple of months” before test results come in and the report is complete.
The baby’s death is the second death of an infant male to occur at 92 Allen St. in the last four months.
“This case is not connected with an infant death that occurred at the same address on Dec. 30, 2011,” Edwards said.
The first baby boy was born Dec. 9 and died for unknown reasons on Dec. 30.
“We don’t have a cause or manner from the first one. It’s just taking longer than the average,” Belserene said. “Both are still pending further study.”
Emergency medical personnel and police were called to Allen Street at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday for a report of an unresponsive male infant. The child was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Edwards said.
State law requires that investigations and autopsies be performed in cases involving the death of children under the age of 3.
Allen Street is only about a half-mile long and the house at 92 Allen St. appears to comprise two apartments.
Sad
Umm…can they put a rush on it? Is two dead babies not a priority?
Not trying to sound cruel but why rush the test? It is not going to change the fact the child is dead and I’d rather they take their time and get the test right than rush it and get it wrong.
I don’t think it’s the tests themselves that are taking so long- I think the lab is backed up. I think 2 unrelated babies dying in the same residence so close to one another ought to put them top of the list.
So their test results are more important than the test results of others that have died? It is very sad that two children have died at this residence but their test results should not take precedence over others.
Kevin_Of_Bangor, you need to get a life and stop living on this site! You comment on every article!
I have a life thank you very little and I do not comment on every article but for some crazy reason you think I do.
Actually you do apply to most of the articles, but for anyone including me that knows this, are also on this site to much. lol.
I think you meant reply, not apply?
Below are the most active members and I’ve only made 2533 comments as of this date. So you can see I’m not anywhere near the top.
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Their results should take precedence, as it could be something toxic in that house that is killing babies. It would be tragic if something happened to someone else, because this wasn’t made a priority.
If it something within the house, and not the cause of those within the home, the adults & any older children (if there are any) may be being affected as well. Since the babies were so little, anything toxic in the house would affect tem first. We have no idea what could possibly be happening within the bodies of others living in that house!
So the death of others is not important to you then? How do you know another set of parents are not waiting to find out how their infant died? Their results are not as important is what you are stating if you feel this case should take precedence.
Finding out what killed others is important to me, don’t put words in my mouth. I think though, that finding out exactly what drug killed the addict, or what killed another individual in an isolated incident can wait for this. There are two, unrelated babies who died months apart at the same address, and I (along with others) think it would be top priority to find out why. If it is a toxic substance within the house, it could be slowly killing the others who live there.
Had the second infant not died, I would not feel the way I do. I would not see the urgency for pushing the tests to the top. I would continue to feel bad for the parents of the child affected by the isolated death, and hope that it was a SIDS death, rather than a death caused by another human being.
Unfortunately though, that’s not the case, is it?
I asked a question, I did not place any sort of words in your mouth.
And now you are stating how others died is not as important to the loved one of those that are waiting for test results. Your words are below…
I think though, that finding out exactly what drug killed the addict, or what killed another individual in an isolated incident can wait for this.
You are basically
stating their test results can wait because an addict’s life was not important to those that loved the person that became an addict.
As much as it makes me the bad person I will be the bad person to state their test should not take precedence.
Kevin, I was once waiting for tox results from the ME’s office. We were sure we knew what and there were no surprises. My late husband was not a drug addict, his life did matter, but as in the case of people suspected of dying due to the use or even abuse of any substance, someone usually has an idea what, but like me, maybe not how much. And as badly as I wanted results in my husband’s case, I would have been the first to suggest putting these little angels names at the top of the list. Two deceased infants from one address in four months is my idea of an EMERGENCY!!
right on raysgirl, someone that cares about children more than adults. I am glad I am not kevin of bangors child.
If you know that an addict died of a drug overdose (but don’t know WHICH drug it was), or a person died in a single isolated incident where nobody else is in danger, yes, they can be bumped down the list. Yes, I understand families are grieving, and want answers, I’m not heartless. I still think though that a home where 2 BABIES have died, and there is no obvious cause of death, tests should be bumped up. That house may be killing the people that live in it.
Things are shifted ALL THE TIME based on priority. The furnace repairman bumps a routine service for the family with a 2-year old with no heat when it’s 20 below out. The Emergency Department at the hospital takes the man who is in anaphylactic shock from a bee sting, over a child who broke his arm jumping on the bed. AAA bumps EVERYONE over a call with a child involved, even if it’s just a flat tire. That’s just how life (and death) works.
I know I’m the bad guy for stating the truth. It is not easy being the person that tells others the truth. I get a lot of backlash for doing it often but I’m not scared to tell you the truth and hence I get these sort of responces.
My comments get flagged, my post get removed but I’m not going to stop stating the truth.
In this case, you are stating your opinion. You don’t think this case should be given priority. You are entitled to that opinion, as I am entitled to mine, and everyone else is entitled to theirs.
The TRUTH is that things get bumped all the time, based on priority. I have personally either been the one bumped up or down in the scenerios I stated above.
I am also one who says it like I see it, and I certainly don’t sugarcoat things. I think that no matter how many times we go back & forth, we will never agree. How about we agree to disagree, and leave it at that?
Hugs :-)
I think it’s more like twist it a little LOL
The problem here with everyone thoughts process and making this an emergency out of fear that there is a toxic substance in the home killing these children, is that you forget that the police can’t release all of the information, they don’t see it as an emergency because they know more information and it probably indicates that the death was related to something someone in the home did whether drug use of their own, co sleeping, etc.
That may be the case, but it also may not. I agree that we never know the entire story, the police can’t conduct a proper investigation if they share everything they find with the media.
What I DO know though, is that according to this article, neither baby died a suspicious death, and they are waiting the results of toxicology tests to determine (if possible) the death of these two babies. I would think, that if it was related to co sleeping, they would have found evidence of suffocation, and if it were related to drug use of another person in the home, there would be some kind of evidence of that as well.
I think two infant deaths in the same house in a four month period definitely warrants a rush put on these tests. What if that problem is not strictly isolated to the home but is prevalent in the neighborhood. How many lives would you be willing to risk on a first come, first serve line?
Think about what you just typed. Truly think about it.
Then let me know how you feel.
I thought about before I wrote it. I usually do. But unless there is another interpretation for what I typed, I still feel exactly the same. I hope to God that it is not something in the neighborhood or even in that one house, but two deaths in such a short period is certainly a reason to pause. I feel every effort should be made to order the necessary tests and have them done on a priority basis.
I agree with you raysgirl!
I was thinking the same thing about maybe it’s something toxic in the building they are living in. I pray that they find something to at least bring some closure to how or why they died.
oh yeah they should babies havent even had a chance to live and experience life yet I think they should be top priority.
Many folks in the neighborhood are expressing concern about the drug deals that seem to have been happening at that house. I’d appreciate it if the BDN would print the name of the property owner/landlord, so that we can all understand who is running the place.
They have given you the address. It’s a matter of public record, at the Assessor’s Office, if it’s truly that important to you.
This is terribly sad!!! Were both of the infants children of the same parents? So sad!!
No there are 2 apartments in this building. A grandparent said in the morning story that the babies were unrelated. May they both rest in peace !!!
Maybe it is a congenital birth defect .
The 2 babies weren’t related. It still may have been a birth defect, but it would be very coincidental!
This is very sad…
perhaps testing the house for chemicals
seems like that should have been done after the first death…got to be something in that house…
It may have been done, and those samples are ‘in line’ at the lab. If it wasn’t, I’m sure it will be done now.
Is there a reason why neither baby is identified?
Most likely because they were minors and because there is no evidence of any crime being committed. It is possible that this a tragic coincidence of SIDS.
Yes, it’s possible that it is SIDS. But I pointed this out because it’s another example of the [lack of] copy editing in the BDN. If they’re not going to identify someone, they need to explain why, even if it’s because police have not released the name.
They don’t “need to explain why” because it’s none of your business.
That might be a bit harsh. With two unrelated deaths with no obvious criminal activity, I think the names are not germane to the article.
i was told that the first baby belong to the couple living there and the second baby belongs to the couple staying with the first couple
I think it time for the medical examiners office to crank up the speed. The tests do take some time, but usually the culprit is a backlog at out of state laboratories doing tests that could be done right here in Maine at a higher cost.
My condolences to both families for their losses of their precious babies.
SIDS is random, yet I know of a mother and daughter who both lost infants on the same date in May.
It’s too bad that the way society is today that, people automatically think the worst.
How very sad—
two baby deaths on same house and not suspicious ???? hummmmmmmmmmm
It’s been said that there are 2 apartments in the building. Perhaps the 2 infants weren’t from the same apartment? It’s just a thought…
hmmm. maybe something in the water or the HVAC system in this building?
Plain and simple. There are those that know what is going here and those that don’t. It isn’t a mystery. The BDN beat reporters should have much more to add this story by now.
None of the below posters have a clue what is going on in that house. I would say but I would get blocked, like I did back in January. I beg the BDN to do some reporting so the readership can understand and act on what steps can be done in the future to prevent such tragedy. Thank you.
U can’t get blocked if u send a personal email ..u willingto tell what u know? I will give u my email
I guess now I know why my 8 post are no longer on the site. I too have posted information about the people and the things that go on there and within a short time they are gone. Not sure why they do not want the whole picture at the BDN it seems TV reporters are much more open.
All toxicology testing in forensics take time – sometimes up to 8 or more weeks to analyze. I realize the EMMC did not report “toxicology tests” were being performed, but an autopsy could tie this into their determining the cause of death. We will see.
Actually, think about how long it take to gt celebrity results back. They are the same tests. They are not 1-2 hour tests, some not even 1-2 days, but most can be completed within a week. There are some post mortem processes that occur beginning at the moment of death that could affect blood testing which is why the tests are a little more specialized. And they do have to be interpreted by a post mortem clinician in conjunction with already known facts, which in this case seems to be few. Most of these tests look for specific substances, toxins, medications, environmental contaninants etc. Other longer exams will look for microscopic pathology especially of the blood, brains, and the hearts of these two infants, but on a prioritized basis, I would expect definitive results in no more than four weeks, other than tests that may have to be repeated.
This is tragic! I hope they find the cause soon so the parents can get closure. I wouldn’t be surprised if mold was the culprit. Some types of mold can be deadly to babies and the elderly. Two deaths of infants in the same location I would start to test everything in that home, that of course being after I moved.
Maine doesnt care or do anything about mold..been there..my grandkids and daughter both suffererd from mold in their trailer (they moved)..NO ONE would do anything about it and god knows we tried..The way life should be… Bahhh!!
sids is what doctor call it when they really dont know what happened to a baby. they told my aunt her baby died of sids and they just dont know what causes it . she was not satisfied and had a private autopsy done guess what not sids a metibolic syndrome, also it is genetic her and her husband share a rececive gene. so at least now they know not to try to have any more children 75% chance it would happen again, thankfully she has one healthy child from her first marriage. If she had listened to the first autopsy she would have tried to have more children. it seems sometimes it is easier to say sids then to really try to find out the truth
I know a couple who lost 2 babies to SIDS as well. Linked to genetics. Very sad indeed.
In most cases, an autopsy and a very wide variety of post mortem blood tests are done. These tests have been proven over the years to catch most of the causes that are likely to contribute to the death of an apparently healthy infant. However, when all of these tests are negative, foul play has been ruled out, and almost all environmental dangers have been eliminated as causes, and then the death is ruled SIDS. There are so many genetic causes, to go testing for them randomly and/or blindly would bankrupt a state on the first such autopsy. If a parent has a specific concern or family history, that should be passed onto the medical examiner and then possible additional testing may confirm the presence of a genetic disorder that caused or contributed to an infants death.
Kudos to your aunt for pursuing the cause. Most families do not have the resources to have these independent tests done. And sometimes a baby does die, not for NO reason, but from a conspiracy of circumstances that cannot be proven at autopsy.
she did not have the money she took out a loan, as she did for the funeral and if she had not in 2-3 years she most likely would be buring another child. so to me no price was too high. (2500)