Rhode Island

Rhode Island Officials Investigate Death of Baby in Foster Care

Rhode Island child welfare officials are investigating the death of an 18-day-old boy in foster care.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families confirmed the death to the Providence Journal.

The spokeswoman says an autopsy did not reveal any visible signs of physical trauma, and further testing is being done to determine a cause of death.

The boy's mother, Marisol Hernandez, of Pawtucket, told the newspaper that state social workers came to her home Wednesday to tell her the boy had died in his sleep.

Hernandez says social workers at Women and Infants Hospital had taken the boy from her after his birth on Oct. 6 as a precaution, citing her previous postpartum depression.

She said, "there was no reason for that."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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