Autopsy results ‘inconclusive’ in baby’s death
Autopsy results released Monday afternoon are “inconclusive” in the death of a 4-month-old Mount Prospect girl found unresponsive last week at an unlicensed home day care center in Hoffman Estates.
The Department of Children and Family Services is investigating allegations of abuse against a provider associated with the day care, spokesman Jimmie Whitelow said.
However, Hoffman Estates Police Sgt. Darin Felgenhauer would not say whether there are any suspects in the baby’s death or if an arrest or arrests are expected, when he spoke at a news conference Monday afternoon.
Anna Belle Chung was unconscious and not breathing when paramedics arrived Wednesday morning at the home on the 4200 block of Crimson Drive, officials said.
The girl originally was taken to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, then transferred to Children’s Memorial Hospital later Wednesday night. She was pronounced dead at 11:44 a.m. Saturday at Children’s Memorial, police said.
The hospital initially said the death could be the result of shaken baby syndrome, a Cook County medical examiner’s office spokesman said.
Felgenhauer said that report did not come from Hoffman Estates police, and it has not been confirmed.
Felgenhauer added that the department is waiting for further study by the Cook County medical examiner’s office as the investigation continues. The medical examiner’s office would not elaborate on what those further studies may include.
The girl’s parents could not be reached for comment Monday.
Whitelow said the Hoffman Estates day care facility, Sunflower Christian Montessori, has been ordered to cease operating.
“Every day care home should be licensed by the DCFS,” Whitelow said.
According to the Child Care Act of 1968, which is a part of state statute, home-based day care facilities must be licensed if they care for more than three and up to a maximum of 12 children — including the family’s natural, foster or adopted children and anyone under the age of 12 — for less than 24 hours a day.
Home-based day care facilities outnumber commercial day care centers in Illinois nearly 4-to-1, according to the DCFS website.
Whitelow said DCFS had one previous contact with a day care provider at Sunflower, in May 2010, but the allegation at that time was determined to be unfounded.
A message left on the Montessori day care’s answering machine was not immediately returned, and no one answered at the home Monday.
It is unclear whether Sunflower’s caregivers are certified in the Montessori method of education.
Representatives with the American Montessori Society could not be reached for comment Monday, but Sunflower Christian Montessori is not among the schools listed on the society’s website.