Authorities in Orange County confirm they’re investigating the death of a child in the City of Newburgh after law enforcement was seen at a home on South Street Tuesday.
So far, it’s not clear if the child died at the home. Authorities are being tight-lipped about what happened, and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office says it's waiting on tests to come back.
City of Newburgh police and prosecutors say so far, the child’s death doesn’t seem suspicious, but a source inside the Newburgh Enlarged City School District tells News 12 they contacted Orange County Child Protective Services and City of Newburgh police with concerns about the safety of a 3-year-old who lives there and a school-aged child about a month ago after the student was absent from class.
CPS confirms it is investigating but wouldn’t reveal anything else. City of Newburgh officials and prosecutors have also not confirmed any additional information.
News 12 tried to speak to the family, but people in the driveway of the residence asked us to leave.
Neighbors told News 12 several children live there and are often seen outside alone.
“Sometimes they go missing,” says a neighbor.
The woman asked not to be identified but says she thought that’s why police were at the home on Tuesday.
“I just thought it was that they were trying to find a kid,” the woman says.
Another neighbor, who also asked not to be identified, says he's seen the family outside when the children are playing.
“I’ve seen the father chasing them up and down the street a few times but yeah, it’s a shame. Shame to hear,” says the man.
Authorities have not yet said how old the child was who died.