Police investigating death of an infant in Bainbridge

BAINBRIDGE — State Police detectives are investigating the Thursday-morning death of a Bainbridge infant.

At 5:50 a.m. on Thursday, the child’s father called Putnam County 911 Dispatch reporting his unresponsive son at their Main Street home.

The father attempted medical aid until arrival of emergency services, with the infant then being transported to Hendricks Regional Health.

He was later pronounced deceased at the Danville hospital.

An autopsy conducted Thursday evening at Hendricks Regional Health indicated the infant may have been the victim of an unsafe sleeping environment with a parent. However, the investigation is still under way with full autopsy results expected in six to eight weeks.

The lead investigator is ISP Det. Don Curtis. Assisting were ISP Det. Sgt. Sam Stearley, ISP Crime Scene Investigator Sgt. Jim Cody, Indiana Department of Child Services-Putnam County, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Bainbridge Town Marshal and the Hendricks County Coroner’s Office.

The Indiana State Police and Department of Child Services wish to remind parents of the danger of co-sleeping with infants. Both agencies also encourage when infants are placed into cribs that the sleeping area is free from pads, stuff animals, and other articles that may at some point, impede or stop the normal breathing efforts of the infant.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) research has shown that the safest place for young babies to sleep is in a cot or bassinet next to their parents’ bed.