Updated 09/02/2010 11:00 PM
Sources: Officials Investigate Brooklyn Girl's Death For Signs Of Abuse
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A four-year-old girl was found dead Thursday at her Bedford-Stuyvesant home, prompting an investigation of possible abuse.
The Administration for Children's Services is looking into the case as police continue to question the mother, identified as Carlotta Pierce, 30.
Investigators say Pierce called 911 because her daughter was unconscious and not breathing, and police found the child's body in the apartment at around 7:30 a.m.
The girl, identified as Marcella Pierce, 4, was declared dead at the scene.
Sources say the girl had a medical condition and underdeveloped lungs, and weighed only 15 pounds. They also say she had marks on her wrists and ankles, leading investigators to believe she had been tied to the bed.
Sources say an oxygen machine was also found in the room, but was not turned on.
The girl's father says Marcella was born premature and used assistance breathing, but doesn't believe her mother would ever harm the little girl.
"Of course I believe my...is innocent. I don't think she hurt kids are anything like that. I been with her awhile. I never see her physically harm her kids are anything like that. So for them to say that, that's ludicrous," said the girl's father, Tyrone Pierce.
Meanwhile, neighbors who spoke with NY1 say they wonder if this whole situation could have been prevented.
"That's really sad. That's unfortunate that a young child was treated like that and died as a result of that. But one thing also I'm wondering -- was there a worker working on the case, a social worker? Was that person could have prevented the whole thing?" asked one neighbor.
ACS has released a statement on their investigation saying, “We don’t yet know all the facts in this case, but we will get to the bottom of it as quickly as possible, and we’ll take every appropriate action as quickly as possible."
ACS could not say whether the family had been previously under investigation for child abuse. However, the agency says they did have a relationship with the family, which included two other young children, who appeared to be healthy.