Baby girl drowned before mother bled to death, coroner says
The Coroner’s Unit of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has released the autopsy results for 37-year-old Brandy Ann Stanton of Creston and the newborn girl she had just delivered.
The mother and infant were brought by ambulance to the emergency room of Twin Cities Hospital on Saturday where they were pronounced deceased.
According to witnesses, earlier that morning, Stanton had been taking a bath at her home in Creston. Based on the totality of the circumstances, evidence at the scene, autopsy results and interviews, it was determined that while in the tub filled with water, Stanton gave birth to a live infant, the report says.
It was further determined, the baby took a breath or breaths above the water and then subsequently drowned, the report says.
Investigators determined Stanton had physically separated the umbilical cord from her body and was awake for a prolonged period of time after the baby was born. Evidence suggests Stanton’s family had not been aware of the pregnancy.
Coroner’s investigators have determined the cause and manner of death for the newborn as a drowning at the hands of another.
Coroner’s investigators have also determined the manner and cause of death for Stanton as natural by exsanguination, a severe loss of blood.
Since both the daughter and mother are deceased in this case, no criminal charges will be filed with the District Attorney’s Office.
Original report April 23:
Local mother and newborn die after delivery
Early Saturday morning, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Twin Cities Community Hospital Emergency Room after a mother and newborn infant were pronounced dead.
The mother and infant were brought to the emergency room at about 6:30 a.m. by ambulance in severe medical distress.
According to witnesses, 37-year-old Brandy Stanton was taking a bath at her home in Creston when she began yelling for help. A relative discovered Stanton and the baby she had just delivered in severe medical distress.
An ambulance was called and both were taken to Twin Cities Hospital Emergency Room where they did not survive attempts at resuscitation. As a result, the Coroner’s Unit of the Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation.
No foul play is suspected. No further information is available at this time.
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