Questions surround Detroit toddler's death

Boy's mother found at mental health facility

DETROIT – Kyra Minor can't believe her little nephew Aaron is gone. 

Kyra said Aaron Minor would have turned 3 years old on May 14. 

"If anybody met him ... he had the most bubbly personality," she said. 

Aaron's family is reeling after his body was found Wednesday afternoon inside his mother's apartment in Detroit. There was no sign of Aaron's mother, Deanna Minor. 

In fact, Kyra went to check on both of them this past Monday. No one answered the door. She had no idea her nephew's body was inside the apartment. 

"It's really, really heart-wrenching," said Kyra. "I really don't have the words for it."

Sources told Local 4 little Aaron's body was found tucked into his bed. There are no signs of trauma to him. His cause of death is pending. 

Investigators do not believe the boy tucked himself in, considering the position in which he was found. 

How long was Aaron there? Detroit EMS picked up his mother May 16 outside her apartment. She was complaining of abdominal pain. She was alert and showing no signs of mental issues. She never told medics she had a child. 

There were warning signs: Deanna Minor's mother said her daughter was under the care of the social service agency costs. Her case worker sent a text to her mother in March saying she was worried Deanna wanted to hurt herself. 

For days now, the family didn't know Aaron was dead. They didn't know where Deanna was. Police found her Wednesday night receiving mental health care at a facility in Wyandotte. 

The family says the case worker failed them. 

"(We were told) her case worker would call us if she misses anything. Nobody called," said Kyra. 


About the Author:

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.