On Tuesday, January 27th, a forensic pathologist performed an autopsy on 4-year-old Estefania Duque who died Sunday afternoon. The exam showed Duque's manner of death was accidental and her cause of death was positional asphyxiation.
At approximately 4:00 pm Sunday, Fresno County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a home on the 700 block of E. American Ave. regarding an injured child. Medical staff with American Ambulance and Cal Fire – Fresno County were first on scene to treat a 4-year-old girl who was not breathing. CPR was performed and paramedics rushed the child to Community Regional Medical Center. A short time after arriving at the hospital the child was pronounced deceased.
Due to the unusual circumstances of the case, homicide detectives responded to the scene to collect evidence and conduct interviews. Family members told deputies the girl was in her room by herself while some of her adult relatives were in another room. She was in her room alone for about 30 minutes when a family member who had just come home noticed from the outside of the house that the girl’s head was stuck between a set of metal security bars covering her window. A family member dialed 911 while other relatives worked to free her from the bars. They were able to get her out and held on to her until emergency personnel arrived. At this point, it is unknown why the child attempted to climb out of the window. This remains an ongoing investigation.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind families the importance of child proofing your home. Inspect windows, the cords on blinds, install cabinet locks, protect electrical outlets and secure furniture to walls. It’s important to keep medicines and sharp objects out of a child’s reach, as well as items which can become a choking hazard. We also encourage folks to work with their children to create a plan in case of an emergency.
