Baby's death may be due to mother rolling over on the child

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 7:33 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

By Shavonne Potts

spotts@salisburypost.com

SPENCER — The Spencer Police Department is investigating the death of a 2-week-old boy that investigators say may be the result of the mother rolling over on the infant.

Tonya Leanne Hennis, 33, called 911 Sunday around 10:30 a.m. when she found her 2-week-old baby boy not breathing. The baby was in the bed with the mother.

According to Spencer Police Sgt. Eric Ennis, Hennis administered CPR and called for emergency help. When EMS personnel arrived at the home at 210 S. Yadkin Ave., they too gave the baby CPR but were not able to revive him.

"It appears to be a rollover, but we won't know for sure until we hear from the medical examiner," Ennis said.

The infant's death came just two days before a Child Well Being Community Roundtable on risk factors for infants, including co-sleeping with family members.

The Rowan County Department of Social Services officials selected the topic for this year's round-table discussion after a December 2008 state fatality review found co-sleeping to be a factor in the May 2, 2008, death of 8-month-old Emmanuel Campusano Jr. The meeting takes place today.

Co-sleeping has also been cited as a factor in other child fatalities reviewed across the state.

Hennis' son's body was sent to the medical examiner's office in Mecklenburg County.

Police also spoke with Ricky Rimer, Hennis' boyfriend, who was also at the home. Rimer is not the baby's father, police said.

"There is no prior medical history for the child," Ennis said.

The baby was born June 12. No charges had been filed Monday evening. Officials have not released the baby's name.

In April, Hennis accidentally ran over her then-boyfriend Terry Lee Bost. Police later said Bost committed suicide when he jumped from her moving car.