MAPLEWOOD, Minn. - Maplewood police are investigating the death of an 18-month-old girl as a homicide.
Maplewood police and fire crews were called to a home in the 2500 block of Barclay St. shortly after 11:00 a.m. Thursday on a report of a baby not breathing. Upon arriving, they found the 18-month-old girl unresponsive and not breathing. Despite life-saving efforts the girl was pronounced dead at the scene. Paramedics noticed bruises on the girl's body and face.
Two men who were at the home were brought to the Maplewood Police Department for questioning.
The boyfriend of the girl's mother was arrested. The other man was released.
Police say the suspect is not the biological father of the girl.
"Even while investigators work to determine exactly what happened to this little girl, no answer will mask the tragedy of her death," said Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell in a news release. "Few crimes are more disturbing than the death of child at the hands of a caregiver," he added.
More information is expected to be released Friday.
