Baby Drowns After Woman Let 8-Year-Old Babysit
CHICAGO (STMW) -- A 9-month-old girl accidentally drowned in a tub Thursday night after a woman left an 8-year-old in charge of babysitting the infant, police said.
Renesha Fuller of 7749 S. Essex Ave. was pronounced dead at South Shore Hospital at 9:45 p.m., the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said.
An autopsy on Friday found the infant died from drowning and her death was ruled accidental, the medical examiner's office said.
Police said Renesha was left in the care of her aunt, who while bathing the child, stepped away for a few minutes and left an 8-year-old child to watch her.
When she came back, Renesha was unresponsive, police said.
DCFS is investigating an allegation of neglect against Renesha's aunt, spokesman Jimmie Whitelow said. The agency has had no prior contact with the woman but had prior allegations of neglect withing the same family, most recently in December 1998, he said.
Whitelow confirmed there was at least one other child in the home but could not provide further details.
Calumet Area detectives are investigating.
