Lindsay toddler dies from mysterious injuries

LINDSAY, Calif.

Lindsay Police say they will rely heavily on the evidence they took from the house Thursday, but most of all, her autopsy which is scheduled for Monday.

Investigators are looking for any clues they can because the girl had no visible injuries.

Lindsay Police officers spent 12 hours at the house on Westwood Street conducting interviews and seizing evidence to help them determine what caused a little 2-year-old girl to stop breathing.

The toddler was being taken care of by a male relative in his 20s while her parents were at work.

Lt. Bryan Clower, Lindsay Police Dept. said, "She was found not breathing and unresponsive and the family member immediately called 9-1-1."

The little girl was flown to a San Francisco hospital. She died from her injuries early Friday morning. Investigators found no injuries on her body. They're calling her death suspicious until they exhaust all other possibilities. Officers are determined to discover what happened to her and how she died.

Lt. Clower said, "I think the forensic evidence the investigation we conducted yesterday and the autopsy results will lead us to the conclusion of this investigation and a just conclusion."

News of the girl's death spread quickly in this small town. Her mother worked at Tony's Pizza and a donation box has been set up by employees there to collect money to help pay for the girl's funeral expenses.

Isabel Valadez, neighbor said, "I'm just sorry to hear about the little girl and hopefully they find whatever is wrong with her whatever happened to her."

The case has taken a toll on the Lindsay Police department -- where many officers have young children.

Lt. Clower said, "It is absolutely difficult for an officer to investigate this type of case especially officers that have children of this age."

We are not releasing the name of the little girl at the request of the family. Many say she was cute, always happy and smiling.

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