2-Year-Old Found Dead: Investigation of Missing Girl Puzzles Police, Cause Of Death Pending
A mere 40 minutes after an Amber Alert was issued, a 2-year-old girl was found dead in a ravine Sunday. Pennsylvania police say Adrionna Williams’ lifeless body was found in desolate area, a distance too far for her to have walked. The missing toddler’s death is being investigated as a homicide, this according to a WPXI news report.
Allegheny County police Lt. Andrew Schurman spoke to the press about the tragic developments. A dog walker found the body of the 2-year-old in a shallow ditch near Chalmers Street just before 8 p.m., less than an hour after her family reported her missing. WTAE wrote that Adrionna’s corpse was found less than three miles from her home.
“A passing citizen walking their dog made the discovery. Obviously, the child didn’t walk there on her own, she was placed there after her death. The investigation is ongoing and at this stage we do not believe the child was abducted by a stranger.”
Schurman said the passerby managed to see what appeared to be a leg in the remote area. For some time now, vehicular traffic has been prohibited along the street, but pedestrians, like the dog walker who found the 2-year-old’s body, were allowed.
Balloons and bears are left near the site where 2-year-old Adrionna Williams’s body was found Sunday in Swissvale. pic.twitter.com/OsXuPR0rWJ
— Lisa Washington (@LisaWashing) June 16, 2015
Law enforcement officials are trying to retrace the young girl’s footsteps and gather a better picture about her last hours alive. They are working closely with relatives and friends of the dead girl.
Acclaimed Forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht, who has consulted on scores of high-profile death and murder cases, spoke with the media about the finding of the 2-year-old’s body. In his professional opinion, he believes that whoever is involved in leaving the girl’s body in the ravine is very familiar with the area.
“This is a terrible case, and I believe that it’s somebody that most likely knew this family.”
A day after the 2-year-old Pennsylvania girl’s body was found, the Allegheny County medical examiner’s office conducted an autopsy. However, it has not released the manner and cause of death. The results of the investigation are awaiting additional examination and toxicology tests.
After the 2-year-old girl’s body was found, her mom, Adrienne Williams, expressed her grief on social media.
“I never cried so much. Never hurt so bad. Girl, you were my life. I can’t think of nothing but you. My heart is shattered into pieces. Mommy loves you, girl! My angel.”
At this time, no information about suspects or persons of interest have been released to the public.
[Photo via Twitter]
