Police investigating origin of medication
GARY | A 5-year-old Gary boy died earlier this month from an overdose of painkillers and prescription cough syrup, a toxicology report revealed.
Cedrick Smith's test results showed high levels of Oxycodone and Dextromethorphan, Chief Deputy Coroner Jeffrey Wells said.
Wells said Tuesday that the coroner's office still is investigating the child's Jan. 11 death and has not ruled on whether the incident was accidental or a homicide.
Gary police and the Indiana Department of Child Services also are investigating, Wells said.
He said the probe is trying to determine the origin and ownership of the medications that killed the boy.
Police were called about 8:25 a.m. Jan. 11 to a home in the 4300 block of West 20th Avenue on a report of an unresponsive child, Gary police Lt. Samuel Roberts has said.
Cedrick, who lived at the home, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Smith's mother told police he became tired about 7 p.m. Saturday and fell asleep in a living room chair. When family members tried to wake Smith in the morning, he was unresponsive. At the time of death, Smith's mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a 1-year-old sibling were in the home, police said.
Roberts confirmed the investigation still was ongoing Tuesday but declined further comment. He said he did not know if there were any other children still in the home.
Anyone with information on the case can call Gary police Detective Art Azcona at (219) 881-1210.
Posted in Local on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 12:00 am Updated: 2:11 am.
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