UPDATE Mother Arrested: 4 Year Old Boy Dies in Apartment Fire Keizer
The 4-year old child has been identified as Andre Joaquin Sosa
(KEIZER, Ore) — UPDATE: Dep. Chief Jeffrey Kuhns Of Keizer Police tells us that investigators have determined the incident was criminal and have arrested the mother of the deceased child.
Today an autopsy was performed on the deceased child at the State Medical Examiner's in Clackamas by Doctor Karen Gunson.
The 4-year old child has been identified as Andre Joaquin Sosa and the preliminary results of the autopsy indicate the cause of his death was smoke inhalation pending further toxicology results.
Niya Breann Sosa-Martinez, the mother of Andre Sosa, has been arrested for the crimes of Second Degree Manslaughter (no bail), Criminally Negligent Homicide (no bail),
Endangering the Welfare of a Minor ($5,000 bail) and a Second Degree Child Neglect ($5,000 bail) as a result of this incident.
In addition to those crimes, Niya Breann Sosa-Martinez is being held on a Parole Violation Detention Warrant (no bail).
She was lodged at the Marion County Correctional Facility early Saturday morning.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office and the Oregon State Police are assisting with the investigation and efforts to identify the cause of the fire.
Anyone having information about this incident are asked to contact the lead investigator, Detective Ben Howden, at 503-390-3713 Ext. 3525.
Original Story:
Just after 2:00 p.m. this afternoon, a fire broke out in an apartment on Susan Ct. NE in Keizer, that took the life of a four year old boy.
When police and fire personnel arrived on scene they found a fully engulfed apartment unit.
They went to work putting out the fire, and when they could, they entered the building for a search and found the boy's body
The boy's mother was able to escape the blaze, but was unable to rescue her son.
Neighbors tell Salem News Journal that when they came running out," the mother was just standing there in shock".
Dep. Chief Jeff Kuhns tells us that police and fire investigators have gone too work and will be on scene through out the evening to find the cause of the fire.
Another neighbor says "he was full of life, a normal four year old boy".
The occupants of at least two neighboring apartments have been displaced as a result of the fire.
They are being assisted by the local Red Cross.
Video From the Scene by Jerry Freeman
