Coroner Releases Additional Information on Infant Death; Other Cases

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Published on July 21 2015 4:47 pm
Last Updated on July 21 2015 4:58 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Effingham County Coroner Duane Guffey Tuesday identified the infant who died over the weekend as two-month-old Emilia Pierce of Hastings, Nebraska.

The infant died early Saturday morning after being brought from a motel in Newton where the family was staying. She was pronounced dead at the hospital, meaning Effingham County has jurisdiction over the death.

Guffey's release states that the infant's death was ruled accidental due to asphyxiation. He said the case remains under investigation.

Guffey also released information on the death of 63-year-old Joseph Veech of Effingham on the northwest side of town in a crash along Illinois Routes 32-33 a short distance north of Ford Avenue. The April 16 death was ruled due to injuries sustained in the crash, and there were no contributing factors.

Guffey also announced that the death of 26-year-old Brittany Bohnhoff of Dieterich was due to injuries received in a car crash early on May 5. The ruling indicated that alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash.

Guffey also announced that the death of another infant, Molly Stephens of Effingham, on April 12 was ruled accidental due to asphyxiation.

The automobile crashes were investigated by Illinois State Police, Illinois State Police Crash Reconstruction Services, and the Effingham County Coroner's Office, assisted by the Effingham City Police Department and the Effingham County Sheriff's Department.

Both children's deaths were investigated by the Southern Illinois Child Death Task Force, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services, Effingham County Sheriff's Department and the Effingham County Coroner's Office, with assistance from the Effingham City Police Department and the Newton Police Department in the respective cases.