5-year-old found in home full of bugs and vomit dies, cops say. Parents arrested

A mom and dad were arrested after their 5-year-old daughter was found dead in their home, New Mexico officials said.

Grant County deputies responded to a home in Silver City on reports of an unconscious 5-year-old girl on March 10, according to a news release by the sheriff’s office.

Deputies said the home was filled with bugs, rotten food, vomit and diarrhea, according to court documents filed May 2.

Once deputies found her, they believed she was alive because air escaped her body, according to documents. They said they proceeded to perform life-saving measures, but the girl had been dead for several hours.

A toxicology report showed she had a high percentage of carbon monoxide in her body, officers said.

The mother had used hot coals to heat the home, deputies said. Burning coals indoors can produce harmful levels of carbon monoxide, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Her 7-year-old brother was sent to the hospital to be treated for dehydration and pneumonia, deputies said. He later tested positive for methamphetamine.

The children’s 34-year-old mother and 39-year-old father were arrested on charges of child abuse resulting in death and child abuse resulting in great bodily harm, officials said.

The 7-year-old was placed in the custody of the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department.

McClatchy News is not identifying the parents to protect the identities of the children.

Silver City is about a 280-mile drive southwest of Albuquerque.

This story was originally published May 24, 2024 at 3:26 PM with the headline "5-year-old found in home full of bugs and vomit dies, cops say. Parents arrested."