Toddler’s death under investigation in Springfield

Springfield police are investigating the death of a 15-month-old girl found dead inside her East Rose Street home early Sunday morning.

A woman in the home called 911 just before 8:45 a.m. to report 15-month-old Anna Marie Franklin was not breathing, according to the emergency call obtained by the Springfield News-Sun.

“Right now the death is under investigation because of the age of the child,” said Sgt. Jeff Flores with the Springfield Police Division.

The baby’s family denied a request for an interview.

When medics arrived at the home in the 900 block of East Rose Street they found the child in a bedroom and cold to the touch, according to a police report.

The father of the child told detectives he put the baby to sleep around 4 a.m. Sunday morning and when he went to check on her, she was not breathing so he called 911, the report states.

An autopsy was conducted at the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office Monday, but the results were not available in the afternoon.

Police removed a one-month-old boy who was living in the home into the custody of other family members as the investigation continues, Flores said.

The mother and father of the baby had been under investigation by the Clark County Department of Jobs and Family Services, Flores said.

“Due to the status of the police investigation, the agency will not comment at this time,” said Virginia Martycz, DJFS director in an email Monday.

No charges have been filed in the current case, police said.

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