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Cause found in mother, child death case

04/04/01

CAROL ROBINSON

Birmingham News

An obese southwest Birmingham woman died from heart failure and then smothered her infant daughter sleeping beside her, authorities said.

The Jefferson County Coroner's office on Tuesday ruled 24-year-old Celester Handley's death natural and that of her 5-month-old daughter, Rayven Cobb, as accidental.

"Let's learn something from this," said Chief Deputy Coroner Jay Glass. "Don't sleep with the baby. Seven-year olds can yell out; 5-month-olds can't."

A roommate discovered the bodies of mother and daughter inside their Princeton Avenue home about 2:30 p.m. on March 23. The woman went to tell Ms. Handley that she had a phone call but couldn't wake her or the little girl.

Glass said an autopsy revealed Ms. Handley, who weighed over 300 pounds, likely suffered a heart attack. At some point during the attack, she rolled over onto Rayven who suffocated. It was unclear whether Rayven was sleeping on her stomach or back because she had already been moved by the time investigators arrived, Glass said.

Medical examiners couldn't pinpoint the time of either death, Glass said.

While the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Ms. Han dley and her daughter are unusual, they're not unheard of. Glass said similar deaths occur about once or twice a year in the Birmingham area.

"It happens but a lot of times we can't prove it," Glass said.

There are cases, he said, where it is debatable whether a baby died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or overlaying by the mother or another adult.

"The more important story here," Glass said, "is to point out how dangerous it is to have children sleeping in the bed with adults."

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), April 04, 2001

Answers

off

-- (_@-.-), April 04, 2001.

Damn Lars. Where do you find these news items?

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), April 04, 2001.

Why I suscribe to the Birmingham News of course.

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), April 04, 2001.

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