Mystery surrounds death of baby as police close the investigation
Mystery continues to surround the death of a two-month-old baby at his Staffordshire home which prompted a police investigation.
Staffordshire police have closed the investigation after tests proved inconclusive and, despite 186 initial leads and 129 statements being taken, there are no further clear lines of inquiry.
Tyler Morgan died on April 29 last year after he was taken to hospital from the family home in Sunnymead Road, Burntwood.
An inquest heard that his parents had been drinking and arguing that night.
His father Luke Morgan said he noticed something was wrong when he went to kiss his son goodnight and recalled he was cooler than normal. There was some delay before he woke his girlfriend, the inquest heard.
"It took me over half an hour, it felt like a long time but I wasn't watching the clock at all," said Mr Morgan.
When Tyler's mother Emma Cole was alerted a 999 call was made and after ambulances arrived Tyler was rushed to Walsall Manor Hospital but he was pronounced dead at 4.03am.
Mrs Cole admitted the pair had been drinking but denied they were drunk. She said: "I fed Tyler before I put him to bed about half seven. I was really tired and I said to Luke 'I can't keep my eyes open anymore. I'm going to bed can you do the last bottle feed?'
"The next thing I remember was Luke waking me up telling me something was wrong with Tyler."
The couple confirmed they had rowed on the night about putting a picture on the wall, but claimed the dispute had been resolved before Miss Cole went to bed at midnight. A post mortem found the baby had a 'concerning' bite mark on his arm as well as fractured ribs, but doctors could not confirm if the latter had been caused by attempts to resuscitate him. The medical cause of death was recorded as unascertained.
Speaking at the inquest, DS Angela Goodwin said:
"There are unanswered questions as to what was happening at the family house."
Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh returned an open conclusion at the inquest stating there were no further 'clear lines of inquiry'.
He added: "There are a number of concerns but I do not have clear evidence or clear answers to resolve them."
Staffordshire Police confirmed after the hearing at Cannock Coroner's Court that they too could not progress the case.
