Police investigate toddler death in Somerton

Saturday, May 5, 2018
Police investigate toddler death in Somerton
Police investigate toddler death in Somerton. Jeff Chirico reports during Action News at 11 p.m. on May 4, 2018.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Police say a 2-year-old girl was found dead inside a house in Philadelphia's Somerton neighborhood.

Officers responded before 6 p.m. Friday on the 10000 block of Wilbur Street.

Neighbors reacted with horror at the news a 2-year-old girl had died inside her family's home.

"My God," said one neighbor.

Detectives are investigating the scene where police found the toddler unresponsive on the second floor just before 6 pm. She was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly after.

The mother is being questioned by investigators.

"I hurt. It's a baby."

This neighbor who asked not to be identified is not surprised.

She says the mother has a history of mental illness and was recently hospitalized for it until her husband brought her home.

Police are not calling this death a homicide at this time.

"The husband he want her home. I beg him. I say leave her. Leave her. Please leave her but he don't leave her. She come home and the baby dead, " a neighbor said.

A search warrant has been obtained, and criminal investigators are inside the house, combing for evidence.

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