WISCASSET, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — There appear to be more questions than answers as to how and why a 4-year-old died Friday at her home in the coastal town of Wiscasset.
Local police, along with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, asked Maine State Police to step into the investigation surrounding the death of Kendall Chick.
State police have interviewed those who were closest to the pre-schooler, but are remaining tight-lipped over their findings, only saying those interviewed "have been very cooperative".
What they have shared is that Chick spent her last hours inside the home she shared with her grandfather, Stephen Hood and his fiancée, Shawna Gatto, in a quiet neighborhood on Cricket's Lane. Kendall had celebrated her 4th birthday just two weeks prior, on Nov. 26.
Friday afternoon, something went terribly wrong.
"Late afternoon about 4:30 a 911 call was received from the home of an unresponsive child," said, state Public Safety spokesperson Steve McCausland. Chick was rushed from 19 Crickets Lane to Mid Coast Hospital by ambulance, but she died shortly after arriving.
State police detectives then took over the investigation.
"Primarily because we have more experience in these sorts of things," one official said. "So we’ve been working with those two agencies as we continue the investigation and as we continue to determine why this little girl died."
The scene of Chick's death was reportedly very tough on officers and emergency personnel who responded. And, according to Wiscasset Police Chief Jeff Lange, several have had to receive counseling.
McCausland calls that not surprising, particularly due to the time of the year and because it involves a young child.
"A death investigation is always difficult, and when we’re talking a 4-year-old a few weeks before Christmas, obviously it’s difficult no matter what time of year it is,” McCausland said.
State police detectives are widening their circle, interviewing an extensive list of people who knew or came in contact with the young girl. They said they have spoken with the two adults with whom Chick lived with and continue to investigate.
"We’ve talked to other members of their extended family and obviously that interview list will grow as we continue to seek answers to what we’re dealing with," an official said.
The state medical examiner performed an autopsy on the little girl over the weekend, but those results have not yet been released.