Two children who were pulled from Monroe Harbor earlier this week died of drowning after being in the water for less than five minutes, autopsies revealed Thursday.
Angelica Arreola, 8, and her 7-month-old half brother, Cecilio Montes, died Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, after they were pulled from the deep waters near a bulkhead. Their mother, Roselia Jimenez, 36, was out for an evening stroll with the children.
While pathologists determined the two children drowned, officials were waiting for police to finish their investigation before determining whether the death was accidental or not, a Cook County medical examiner’s office spokesman said.
Officers continued to interview family members Thursday, but thus far their investigation indicated the deaths were an accident, a police detective said.
The infant’s father, who is in Mexico, is attempting to return to Chicago, said Guilibaldo Jimenez, Roselia’s brother. Family members gathered at Guilibaldo Jimenez’s Little Village apartment Thursday to make funeral arrangements and support Roselia Jimenez, who they said was “very distraught.”
Police also questioned a man who said he saw the mother in the water Monday night and helped in the rescue. Argirios Dodas, the witness, told reporters that the mother had seemed too calm for someone whose children were drowning beside her.
But police discounted his impressions, saying his statements to the media were inconsistent with what he told them. Police have no record of Dodas telling them she appeared unusually calm.
“There’s no indication that anyone saw them go in,” said Sgt. Robert Cargie, a Chicago police spokesman.
Police said they think the family was walking along the harbor’s concrete bulkhead when the girl, who was throwing rocks into the water, slipped and fell in. Her mother followed after her, as did Cecilio in his stroller, authorities said. None could swim, family members said.
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Compiled from news services.
