Westland baby death ruled homicide

2-month-old dies Monday; 2 other children removed from home

DETROIT – Westland police were investigating the death of a two-month old baby.

Police responded to a home Monday morning in the Meadows mobile home park near Merriman and Van Born roads. There was a report that the child was not breathing. The 18-year-old mother called 911.

After an autopsy conducted Tuesday, the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office said the death has been ruled a homicide. The autopsy determined the child died from asphyxia and blunt force trauma to the chest.

"Things that we see that our patrol officers had seen that would lead us to believe that needs an investigation by the police department.," said Westland Police Lt. Mike Mattich.

The baby was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Investigators said the baby was bruised.

Moreover, police removed two other children, including the dead baby's twin, from the home. The children are in protective care.

Police were questioning the mother and were calling the death suspicious. Police also were questioning the mother's boyfriend who also was at the home when the baby stopped breathing.