Full Notification

PRESS RELEASE

Yesterday at approximately 6:37pm Polk County EMS, Mill Spring Fire Department, and Columbus Fire Department was dispatched to 23 Freedom Drive in the Mill Spring Community for a 5 month old unresponsive infant. Upon their arrival the infant was immediately rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital Emergency Room where the child was pronounced dead at 7:21pm.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office was immediately notified in which members of their patrol division responded and secured the scene. They in turn contacted the on-call detective who responded as well. Other investigators were dispatched for manpower to assist with the investigation to make sure all interviews and procedures were covered thoroughly.

Investigators made a decision early in the investigation to contact and request assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The decision to contact the SBI was made not based on any suspicion of foul play, strictly on their resource availability.

Early this morning a search warrant was executed at the residence where investigators were searching for anything that could help and aid them in determining the cause of death and to rule out foul play. Again, this is standard protocol when a death of unknown cause occurs.

Investigators per state law notified the county medical examiner where an autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.

This case is being treated and investigated just as any other death where the cause is unknown. Additional information that will not interfere with the investigation will be released as it becomes available.