Although authorities have not released the woman’s name, a family friend identified her as Erika Tomassian. Tomassian’s other child – a 2-year-old boy – was alive but suffering from severe dehydration.
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A mother and her one-year-old son were found dead in their apartment, with her two-year-old boy left scavenging for food and water.
His mother, named in local media reports as Erika Tomassian, had collapsed and died while feeding her youngest son Michael.
When first responders arrived they had to break into the second-story apartment.
Officials believe the young boy then “aspirated” on food and died.
Los Angeles police were called to the Hollywood apartment around 3 p.m. on Monday, October 5 after a anxious neighbor called 911.
Investigators are looking into the woman’s death and have ruled the one-year-old boy’s death as accidental, the spokeswoman said. According to a neighbor, she had recently become a mother when she adopted the two brothers, Michael and Nathan.
Police say the pair had been deceased for two days before being found, leaving the 2-year-old on his own.
“What adds tragedy to this is… that this woman had just opened up her heart and her home to these two boys and adopted them”, Jenal said.
Nathan was taken to a nearby hospital, where he is reportedly in a stable condition.
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At this time, no foul play is suspected.
