Houston police are investigating the death of a 5-year-old girl who was rushed by private vehicle to a local hospital from 500 West Medical Center Boulevard on Wednesday and later pronounced dead, according to officers at the scene.
Investigators say the child’s mother told officers her daughter had complained of leg pain earlier in the day, and that the girl’s condition worsened by the afternoon. The family then drove her to an area hospital, where doctors pronounced her deceased.
According to a Houston Police Department news release, HPD Homicide Division Detectives P. Michon and I. Barrett responded to the case, which is listed under incident number 009512126. The release states that both the child’s identity and cause of death are pending official confirmation through the county medical examiner. Detectives are continuing their inquiry and say all possibilities remain on the table until the autopsy results come in.
Where the call came from
The address 500 Medical Center Blvd is the campus of HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake in Webster, which offers a pediatric emergency center along with other acute-care services. The facility’s public information lists pediatrics and a pediatric emergency center among its specialties, and notes that the campus is equipped as a Level II trauma center with a Level III NICU.
Investigation and next steps
HPD reports that the child’s cause of death and formal identification are awaiting verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, the county medical examiner’s office responsible for determining cause and manner of death. The institute’s public materials explain that autopsies can involve internal and microscopic examinations along with laboratory testing, which can extend the timeline before final results are released…