BOB MITCHELL
STAFF REPORTER
Jun. 23, 2005. 06:51 AM
Peel
homicide officers are now probing the death of a 3-year-old Brampton girl, a
tragedy initially reported as an accidental drowning in a backyard pool.
Police won't say how the young girl died, but sources have told the Toronto Star that the child's back was broken.
Family members were questioned extensively over the past two days about the death in a home on Rockrose Dr. in the Bramalea Rd.-Bovaird Dr. area.
Sources said homicide detectives became involved yesterday afternoon following an autopsy at the Sick Kids hospital. Results haven't been released.
Yesterday, yellow police tape cordoned off the semi-detached home for the second consecutive day and a police officer guarded the residence. There were no signs of any family members.
Forensic investigators spent much of Tuesday inside the home. Peel police officers questioned neighbours yesterday and also spent time inside.
Emergency personnel rushed to the home Tuesday morning after receiving a 911 call indicating that a child had drowned in a backyard inflatable pool.
Police said a relative living in the residence brought the unconscious child to a neighbour's house where the 911 call was made just before 9:40 a.m. The girl was rushed to Peel Memorial Hospital, but she couldn't be resuscitated.
The neighbour told reporters that the relative never mentioned anything about the child drowning. The neighbour added the girl was "totally dry."
Although neighbours said the young girl had a twin brother, police said the boy was a cousin. Another older child also lives in the home. Police said the dead girl's father lives in India.
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