Death of 1-year-old New Castle boy ruled homicide
NEW CASTLE, Pa. (KDKA) -- The death of a 1-year-old boy from New Castle was ruled a homicide.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office said Noah Santiago died from blunt force trauma of the head and trunk. He died at the hospital on Jan. 19, the medical examiner said.
Police said the baby's mom and her boyfriend and two other children live in the Harbor Heights housing complex on Altman Road. The boyfriend was watching the baby on Jan. 19, and a 12-year-old was home too, detectives said.
The mom was at work but she called 911 after receiving information from the apartment that the baby was choking.
New Castle firefighters arrived and found the unresponsive infant. He was rushed to UPMC Jameson and then life-flighted to UPMC Children's Hospital. Hours later, he died.
"With the initial scene, nothing appeared suspicious. Later, the autopsy revealed trauma to the head and trunk," said Detective Brandon Hallowich.
Hallowich said police are waiting on testing from the Pennsylvania State Police's lab. Once they get the results, charges will be filed, Hallowich said.
"We have a suspect at this time but it's under further investigation," Hallowich said.
A neighbor told KDKA-TV he witnessed the first responders at the home on Jan. 19.
"They pulled in," he said. "They still had the lights on. The driver got out and was going toward the back of the door just to get the gurney."
"She came out real fast and went and hurried and got in the ambulance," he added. "They shut the doors and took off. The baby was slumped over like it was dead."
