'No Evidence Of Criminality' In LI Baby's Death: Police

RIVERHEAD, NY — A 7-month-old baby died in Riverhead recently — but despite some online speculation, the investigation into the tragedy is not being treated as a homicide, police told Patch Wednesday.

"It’s a really sad situation, but there's no evidence of any criminality," said Riverhead Police Capt. Danielle Willsey. "We're not handling it as a homicide."

Willsey explained that an "unfortunate" online post with "bad information" led some to believe there may have been a criminality involved, but there was "no evidence" of that, she said.

The baby's family, she said, "is having a very hard time. I feel very badly for the family. It's a sad situation."

According to Riverhead Town police, on October 1 at about 1:11 p.m., a 911 call came in from a 3rd Street residence about the baby, who was unconscious and not breathing.

Police officers and EMS personnel from the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps began CPR in an effort to revive the infant, but despite the efforts, the baby was pronounced deceased at Peconic Bay Medical Center, authorities said.

Riverhead police detectives and the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office are investigating the circumstances that led to the child's death, police said.

Although the death appears to be non-criminal in nature, a protracted investigation by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office must be complete prior to the conclusion of the investigation, police said.

Detectives are also working with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services as well as Suffolk County Child Protective Services, police said.

Riverhead police and Peconic Bay Medical Center staff have made social workers available to help the family, authorities said.