Mother and baby found dead in Hollywood; toddler found alive

When police and firefighters entered a Hollywood apartment Monday afternoon, they found a tragic scene: a mother and baby dead and a toddler wailing.

Authorities were called to the apartment after receiving a call from a anxious neighbor around 3 p.m., police spokesman Lt. John Jenal said.

There, they found the bodies of a woman and a 1-year-old boy, and a 2-year-old boy suffering from dehydration. Her 1-year-old son appeared to have inhaled food and died, according to police. The coroner’s office identified him as Michael Norton. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition, but is stable.

The boy survived oppressive heat in the apartment for days while foraging for food in the lower cabinets, investigators said.

“The two brothers had just been adopted by the woman”, Ludwig said. Medical examiners were trying to determine the cause of deaths.

A friend who lived nearby had been calling to check on her, but made a decision to contact police after he stopped hearing from her.

The toddler was placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, which will make arrangements to place him in an adoptive home, Ludwig said.