‘She was the brightest light:' Family of 12-year-old found dead in Enfield still waiting for answers
An investigation into the death of a 12-year-old girl continues.
Police were processing the scene at the home on Elm Street until the early morning hours on Thursday.
Officers responded to a call of a 12-year-old girl unresponsive at 10;25 a.m. Wednesday. Police said family members were home at the time of her passing and were the ones who called police.
“As we work to determine what it is that has occurred at that location, we are currently working with the also the chief medical examiner,” said Chief Alaric Fox of the Enfield Police Department.
The Connecticut State Police Major Crime Unit was on scene.
“The capabilities and the skill set of the folks on the major crime squad van, it’s very technical and it’s very forensic in nature. So out of an abundance of caution to make sure that is seen is processed completely and properly, so that one does not find out in hindsight that it was necessary to process the scene after it’s too late,” said Fox.
Enfield Police say they obtained a search warrant for the home and asked for state police assistance. They could not share what they searched for in the home. They could not confirm any further details about the nature of the investigation.
“We’re talking to anyone that we think, including family members that might have relevant information. That’s a routine part of any investigation. And certainly will be part of this one,” said Fox.
NBC Connecticut reached out to the girl’s mother.
“The way the news made it feel like some sort of criminal investigation yesterday was the worst possible thing. I went to wake her up, and I found her no longer with us. We still don’t know what happened. But it wasn’t criminal. It’s a tragedy,” said the girl’s mother. She was the brightest light. She cared about fighting for what’s right and standing up for all marginalized people’s. She saw the world and just wanted to make it a better place. She was the sweetest, feistiest little girl you’d ever meet. None of this makes sense right now.”
Enfield Public Schools is putting out supports for people who need them in the community. But, they say the girl was homeschooled.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of a 12-year-old child in our community. Although she was not enrolled in Enfield Public Schools at the time of her passing, having been homeschooled, this loss is profoundly felt throughout our town. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the child’s family, friends, and all those impacted by this devastating loss,” said Superintendent Steven Moccio. “As this remains an active investigation, we will defer to law enforcement for further details. At this time, our focus remains on supporting our students, staff, and families during this difficult period.”
According to paperwork obtained by NBC Connecticut, the mother pulled the girl out of Enfield Public Schools in late September 2022, saying that she would be homeschooled “for the rest of the school year and for the foreseeable future.”
We asked the Department of Children and Families if they have had any involvement with the family in the past.
“We can confirm the department received a report on this tragic, untimely death and are conducting a joint investigation with law enforcement. Due to state and federal confidentiality laws, those are all the details we can share at the moment,” a spokesperson said.
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