Barrow Toddler Dies of Hypothermia

3-year-old found cold and without a pulse

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By Megan Edge

Story Created: Feb 10, 2012 at 5:48 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Feb 10, 2012 at 6:36 PM AKDT

BARROW--New information was released Friday about how a toddler in Barrow died.

On February 2, officers responded to an apartment where they found two children – ages 3 and 1 – nude and hypothermic, with a bedroom window open. Outside, the temperature was 30 degrees below zero.

Both children had been left in the care of 28-year-old Richard Tilden Jr. Tilden was the boyfriend of the children’s mother, Esther Edwards-Gust, and the one who made the emergency call saying the child was unresponsive.

The 1-year-old was found with bruising and dried blood around her mouth.

After arriving at the Momeganna Street Apartment, Sergeant James Michaels noticed the 3-year-old was cold to the touch, blue in the lips and without a pulse.

She was given immediate CPR and rushed to Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital, where hospital personal performed CPR for three hours until her heart was able to beat on its own. Doctors were also rushing to bring the both girls core temperatures back up.

The two were sent by medical evacuation to the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, where they were both listed as critical.

The 3-year-old died on February 4 from extreme hypothermia.

Police noted that Tilden smelled of liquor and saw two bottles of Rich and Rare Whiskey on the floor.

Both adults have been charged with two counts of felony assault.

 

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TKT said on Thursday, Feb 16 at 5:26 PM

First thanks to the medical staff that tried to save her life.I can't stop thinking about a 1 year old baby with blood and bruises on her mouth. She was left to die with no clothes and I would say that there is a possibility that he molested them. Will the babies get Justice? Turn the mother and that man over to the Tribal Elders/ZCChiefs a and I can guarantee that their de death of one and trama of the other will be taken care of. Our police try but they are in a village where tribal law is higher. Thw molested them isn some way.

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JUSTICE said on Saturday, Feb 11 at 9:55 AM

Felony assault? How about "MURDER? The idiots left the babies nude, in a room with the window open & outside temps. 30 degree below zero...That was no accident! Being drunk on whiskey is NO EXCUSE! Get real, with your lax laws!!Poor little babies!

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Rick said on Friday, Feb 10 at 7:42 PM

Someone needs to hang!!!!!!!!!!

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JA Soper said on Friday, Feb 10 at 6:45 PM

I thought they were beaten??? Did I miss something...

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