A woman was taken into custody by police Sunday after her infant drowned in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Officers responded to the 7300 block of Summit Avenue about noon after someone reported a child drowning. The victim, just 3 months old, was taken to a hospital and later died.
Detectives were on the scene combing through the house and searching for evidence. On Monday, police announced the baby's mother was charged with first-degree murder in the drowning.
News4 has been told the body of the infant is being transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, where an autopsy will be conducted to confirm the manner of death and the circumstances surrounding that infant's death.
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“I’m just heartbroken to learn what happened and shocked, but I'm thinking of the family who was affected and impacted. … It’s just really tragic and shocking,” neighbor Katie Howard said.
“I think my first reaction was just shock. Like – ‘What? What do you mean? What happened?’” another neighbor, Megan Blainem said. “There's just no words, and I just really hope everyone’s okay, and obviously the family will be in our prayers.”
Howard, who lives down the street, says she made it a point to check up on her neighbors who she says witnessed first responders arriving at the home. Howard says she doesn't know the family impacted too well but says this is a tight-knit community that is now going through a difficult time.
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“That’s the type of community that I hope this is — that we’re here for each other to give a hug or meet over a cup of coffee and check in on one another. It’s really hard to see and process something like that,” she said. “I think people are really shook up right now. Just in shock and thinking of this family.”
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