Baby death under investigation in NW Harris County

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- How did a five day old baby die? That's the question investigators with the Harris County Sheriff's Department are trying to answer.

Early Thursday morning, a 30-year-old woman sought medical treatment at Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital. During the course of her treatment, the woman told medical personnel that she had given birth five days prior.

That's when authorities went to the home, and found the body of the baby.

A search warrant was obtained, and detectives carefully combed through the small house on the 7200 block of Winding Trace for evidence most of the day.

Neighbors say they rarely saw the mother, but did hear her arguing with someone Wednesday.

"I was inside my house and I heard some loud talking (Wednesday)," said neighbor Laila Perez. "I came to the window and noticed it was them talking in the driveway."

Child Protective Services confirms that the mother has a history with them. A CPS spokesperson told Eyewitness News that the mother has six other children, none of whom live with her.

We saw that first-hand when we visited one of the homes. Cousin Daniel Rios told us he rushed over to his mother's home to babysit his cousin's children, at the request of his mother, who has custody of several young children.

"Your mom told you that your cousin's in the hospital and you had to come here?" we asked.

"Yes ma'am," Rios answered.

But Rios knew little else about his cousin's medical problems, or even that she had just given birth. Rios said he wasn't really shocked. Then, we asked him how he felt.

"Disgusted, I guess?" was his answer.

Court records show there is at least one CPS investigation that is still active. The mother is listed in good condition at a local hospital. An autopsy will be performed on the baby.