Sudden death of infant deemed suspicious

The sudden death of a sixmonth-old baby boy is being investigated by police in northeast Edmonton.

Emergency medical personnel were called to the area of 142 Avenue and 77 Street around 7 a.m. on Sunday and subsequently called police.

The boy was found dead on scene, police said.

Neighbour Stephanie Walters said she was woken up by ambulances and fire trucks around 6:30 a.m., but thought nothing of it.

Later when she went to get peanut butter, she saw the medical examiner and police.

Walters said it’s the type of neighbourhood where neighbours will shovel each other’s walks, and get together for Canada Day celebrations.

“It’s been a quiet neighbourhood,” she said. “You see the odd person pushing a stroller around.”

Tanya Parker said she hadn’t seen a baby but saw a woman in her early 20s who would get dropped off at the house.

She said a middle-aged man and an older man lived in the house after moving in last fall.

“They really kept to themselves,” Parker said.

Parker said she saw a crime scene investigation vehicle, police and the medical examiner outside the house after she woke up Sunday morning.

“It’s so sad,” she said. A news release from the Edmonton Police Service on Sunday evening said the death is being treated as suspicious and a police officer and police tape remained at the house.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday morning.