Health of dead baby’s twin ‘concerning’ fire chief says
The surviving twin sister of a 7-month-old Barrington girl reported dead Wednesday looked to have health complications as well and was hospitalized, authorities said Friday.
Police and paramedics were called to a home on the 100 block of South Hager Avenue on Wednesday and found 7-month-old Mya Edwards dead in the home.
Her living twin sister showed signs she could use medical intervention herself, Barrington Fire Chief Jim Arie said Friday.
“I would say her physical status was concerning,” Arie said.
Arie would not elaborate on the nature of the twin’s health, citing the ongoing investigation. He said he has no further knowledge of the surviving girl’s condition after paramedics got her to the hospital.
Simultaneous investigations into Mya Edwards’ death and allegations of neglect by her parents are expected to take several more weeks.
But in the meantime, there are no standard criteria to determine when or if the surviving twin sister would be returned to those parents, according to the Department of Children and Family Services.
“It’s all evolving right now,” DCFS spokeswoman Veronica Resa said of the Barrington case. “Every case is unique.”
There are, however, standard safety protocols that are being applied to Mya Edwards’ surviving sister, Resa said.
The surviving twin is being cared for under a DCFS-monitored safety plan. Both DCFS and Barrington police have declined to comment on her medical condition.
Mya and her twin sister had no other siblings, but the exact size and makeup of the household in which the girls were being raised is part of the ongoing DCFS investigation, Resa said.
“We expect 100 percent cooperation from anyone involved,” she said.
DCFS is investigating the parents for allegations of neglect. Though this is the first contact DCFS has had with the family regarding Mya, the agency does have one unfounded neglect report regarding the family from April 2013 — the month before the twins were born.
DCFS also has an “indicated abuse” report from 2002 that also involved a member of the extended family.
The simultaneous death investigation by police is still awaiting the results of toxicology and medical tests on Mya, likely to take between six and eight weeks.
The Cook County medical examiner’s Thursday autopsy on Mya was otherwise inconclusive.
The Cook County Major Case Assistance Team is assisting Barrington police on the death investigation.
Barrington Police Chief David Dorn said he couldn’t comment on whether anyone has been in custody since the investigation began.
But the investigation has completed its processing of the house on South Hager Avenue, which is no longer considered an active crime scene, he said.