Investigators in Kentucky declared the death of a 7-year-old boy who died of “positional asphyxia” while in foster care a homicide.
According to a spokesman for the Louisville Metro Police, the investigation continues into Ja’Ceon Terry’s July 17 death. No one has been charged with a crime stemming from Ja’Ceon’s death.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office released the boy’s cause of death last week.
At the time he died, Ja’Ceon was under the care of workers atBrooklawn, a children’s treatment center in Louisville.
Two employees at the center for children with emotional or mental health needs have been fired in the aftermath of Ja’Ceon’s death.
Positional or postural asphyxiation occurs when someone’s position prevents them from breathing. Usually, it happens when the nose and mouth or blocked, or the chest is unable to expand enough to take in adequate breaths.
Ja’Ceon Terry.
The police spokesman tells PEOPLE the department “received the information from the coroner’s office.” and that “this case is still an ongoing investigation.”
He added: “Once we have gathered all of the facts related to this death, we will present them to the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office to determine how we will proceed.”
The statement adds that Ja’Ceon “should not have died on our watch. As protectors of Kentucky’s most vulnerable children, we are dedicated to making sure it never happens again.”
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The cabinet statement said that it “mourns the passing of any child or any person of any age in its care.”
“This sadness was deepened more upon learning the results of the autopsy, identifying asphyxiation as cause of death,” it concluded, adding the cabinet has suspended placing children at Brooklawn for the time being.
source: people.com
