Crime & Safety

Burbank Toddler Died From Being Left In Hot Car, Medical Examiner Says

Burbank police investigating parents of 1-year-old boy for neglect after child died of heatstroke after being left unattended in car, authorities say.

Update, 1:45 p.m. Aug. 31 -- The Cook County Medical Examiner's office has ruled that a 1-year-old boy died of heatstroke caused by being left unattended in a car, Burbank police said. 

The death investigation has now turned into a homicide investigation. The medical examiner's official cause of death was "heat stroke due to neglect."

The National Weather Service reported temperatures climbing to 96 degrees on Friday afternoon.

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Burbank police and fire departments responded to a report of a child found unresponsive at a home in the 4800 block of West 85th Street early Friday evening.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the boy was found by his parents inside their family vehicle that was parked in the driveway of the family’s residence around 5:50 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Oak Lawnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The boy was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m.

Police said the boy's family had lived in Burbank for a number of years, and had moved into their current home in 2012. The parents of the boy are now being investigated for neglect.

A spokesman for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services said the agency has not had any prior contact with the family, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The Tribune identified the 1-year-old boy as Ivan Villa.

Burbank Police said in statement that they are still investigating the boy's death and the case is being reviewed by the Cook County State's Attorney's office.

The Department of Children and Family Services has also opened an investigation.

This is the second reported death of a child dying inside an an unattended vehicle this week. The other occurred in southern Illinois, the Tribune reported.

Original story -- Burbank Police have are investigating the death of a one-year-old child that was found unresponsive in a home Friday evening.

Police said in a news release that officers assisted the Burbank Fire Department on an emergency call of an unresponsive child at a single family home around 5:50 p.m.

The child was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m. at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said.

The cause of death is pending an autopsy by the Cook County Medical Examiner.

“At this time this is being classified as a death investigation,” police officials said. “The Burbank Police Department will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the toddler’s death.”






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