Police question parents in sudden death of Jacklow infant

Police on the Essequibo Coast are investigating the death of a three-month-old child of Jacklow, Pomeroon River, who was found dead in his bed hours after he was fed by his mother.

According to information received by this publication, Romario Damion Henry was discovered dead by his mother on Saturday last around 6 pm.

Stabroek News was told that the parents of the child Orlando Henry, 28, and Selena Joseph, 17, told the police that the child had a “heavy cold” and would pant for breath at intervals. Following these attacks, they said, red marks would appear about his body. Whenever these attacks occurred, Joseph would render first aid.

Joseph told the police that when Henry was two months old he was taken to the Charity Hospital for medical treatment; she claimed she was told by a doctor that the baby was too small at that time for any medications to be prescribed.

On Saturday last at around 4 pm, Joseph reportedly breastfed the baby after which he fell asleep. About 6 pm when she checked on him, he was motionless and she raised an alarm.

The child was taken to the Charity Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor. There were red marks on the child’s back and the police were called in. The body was taken to the Suddie Mortuary where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Several neighbours were questioned by the police but they all denied hearing any unusual crying from the child on Saturday.