UPDATE: Investigation launched into 15 month-old’s death

UPDATE: Monday, October 9th at 4:51 P.M.

Officers from Gladstone Public Safety responded to Thorntree Apartments for an unresponsive 15 month-old child on Saturday, October 7th around 5:50 p.m. Both law enforcement and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services conducted an investigation and upon the end of the investigation, arrested the child’s mother, Michaela Maupin.

The 29 year–old has been charged with one count of second–degree murder and has been arraigned in 94th District Court in Delta County.  It is alleged that the child drowned after being unsupervised for an unreasonable amount of time in a bathtub with running water. The investigation is ongoing.

Maupin’s other children were removed from the home and a petition was filed in Delta County Probate Court requesting the court to take jurisdiction over the children.

Prosecutor Philip Strom said in a statement that “Child abuse is a hidden and silent crime. In this case, a convergence of events led to the death of a child. The alleged evidence in this case will show a wanton and willful disregard for the life of a child. The Delta County Prosecutor’s Office and local law enforcement will continue to be vigilant in protecting our children.”

GLADSTONE — Officers from Gladstone Public Safety were dispatched to a residence in Gladstone around 5:50 p.m. on October 7th on a report of an unresponsive 15 month-old.

On the scene, officers performed CPR on the child. The child was then transported to OSF St. Francis Emergency Room.

The child was pronounced dead in the emergency room. The cause of death is still under investigation.

Rampart EMS assisted Gladstone Public Safety on the scene.