Mother arrested after daughter, three, found dead with 'acid burns'

12 April 2012

A mother arrested on suspicion of murder after her three-year-old daughter was reportedly found dead with acid burns remained in custody today.

Officers arrested the woman, in her 20s, after the youngster's body was discovered at a house in Milverton Road in the Erdington area of Birmingham at 5.30pm on Saturday.

A cause of death has not yet been established but a West Midlands Police spokeswoman said a "hazardous substance" was recovered from the address, adding: "Further toxicology and forensic tests are being carried out to see if the hazardous substance caused or contributed to the child's death."

Neighbours in the tree-lined street, which backs on to a reservoir, said detectives had been making door-to-door inquiries asking residents of they kept corrosive substances at their properties.

Adam Cotterill, 18, who lives opposite the terraced home where the girl's body was discovered, said: "Two detectives came round and asked my dad if we had any corrosive substances in the house, like acid.

"If that's what they think killed her, it doesn't bear thinking about."

Another neighbour said: "They (police) asked if I had anything hazardous and I said bleach but they said they were talking about much stronger chemicals than that."

Police have not yet named the girl and said they would only identify the woman in custody if she was charged, but sources confirmed that the pair were mother and daughter.

A police spokeswoman said family liaison officers were supporting their relatives.

Chief Inspector Mark Payne said: "The death of this little girl in suspicious circumstances has led to an immediate and comprehensive investigation.

"Detectives, forensic experts and local officers are working together to establish how the girl died and who is responsible.

"We are working together with the local community, who have been shocked and distressed by this death."

Neighbours described the child as a "pretty, playful little girl", who had lived at the rented property with her mother for around a year.

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