Posted on 05/31/2007 8:49:36 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3
ROMANCE, Ark. - An 18-month-old boy died Wednesday of suspected heat exposure after he climbed into a dishwasher that started running, police said.
Authorities are still investigating, but said it appeared the boy's death was accidental.
"This is probably the hardest, most emotional scene that these investigators will ever work," said Chief Deputy Jeremy Clark of the White County sheriff's office.
Blake Kurck was found dead in his home near the White County town of Romance at about 1 p.m. Wednesday, the sheriff's office said. The boy's 13-year-old brother found him inside the appliance, which was running, authorities said.
"The baby's blanket was lying in front of the dishwasher, so (the brother) opened it," Clark said.
Police have not released how the boy died, but said cause of death would likely be heat exposure. A preliminary report showed no prior trauma on the boy, the sheriff's office said.
"What we have found out so far would suggest that this is a tragic accident; however the case is still open and we're still looking," Clark said.
The dishwasher was empty when the child got inside, police said. Investigators said the dishwasher was a Maytag model that automatically started when the door closed.
"The death of any child is tragic," said Monica Teague, a spokeswoman for Whirlpool Corp., which makes Maytag dishwashers.
Teague said Whirlpool's appliances are certified for child safety through an independent product testing corporation.
"All our appliances go through rigorous testing," Teague said.
That is a bad design for so many reasons, not even considering what happened here.
an 18mo old climbed into a dishwasher and pulled the door shut and then latched it from the inside?
gimme a freeking break!
The boy’s 13-year-old brother
I’ve never had a dishwater with a door that shut that easily. Always had to give ‘em extra umph to get them to latch.
you might be on to something... I hope not though...
C
Yeah, I don’t think the 18 month old could have done this without assistance. It’s not unusual for older siblings to really resent a new baby in the family.
That's my suspicion too.
“What we have found out so far would suggest that this is a tragic accident; however the case is still open and we’re still looking,” Clark said.
I’m sure the police can handle it.
It clearly states that the dishwasher goes on when the door is closed. Its a bad design.
I’ve never seen one that was a flip-up and then it starts door.
Geez, an 18mo old couldn’t possibly pull a door up to close it from inside the washer.....the brother or maybe someone else did this!
I can barely type as I think of this poor child’s untimely and tragic death.
my mind boggles!
Every dishwasher I have ever owned required me to turn the lever to the start postion to get it going.
I have never seen one that starts on its own without pushing the lever to the right! AND!!! I go back a long time with dishwashers!!!! (like almost 50 years!!!)
Maybe some of the more imaginative among us could start a thread on how to “do in” unwanted younguns’ with weird reasons for escaping suspicion.
I remain verklempt, angry and grieving for this poor little one. Will this sorry excuse pass muster?
Sure, maybe a toddler could crawl in to hide. But, no-one starting the dishwasher could have ignored his screaming for help!
Don’t most doors on dishwashers lift up..rather than fall down.
Brother looks good for it.
A. My dishwasher closes and auto latches (not some crap brand - KitchenAid)
B. I have a scar on my head from climbing in a dishwasher as a kid and getting locked inside, I pushed the door open and shot out smacking my head on a concrete curb, I was in the 3-4 year old range. 15 plus stitches
My parents were there and occupied with the salesman, nobodies fault but mine
Stuff happens, 13 year old should have been watching but it still happens
Blame Bush, Ban the Dishwaher
A. My dishwasher closes and auto latches (not some crap brand - KitchenAid)
B. I have a scar on my head from climbing in a dishwasher as a kid and getting locked inside, I pushed the door open and shot out smacking my head on a concrete curb, I was in the 3-4 year old range. 15 plus stitches
My parents were there and occupied with the salesman, nobodies fault but mine
Stuff happens, 13 year old should have been watching but it still happens
Blame Bush, Ban the Dishwasher
Possibly it had been opened before the dry cycle had finished in order to unload dishes. Then when the door was shut, the dry cycle resumed. Anything grippable on the inside of the door would allow a toddler to shut it on himself. A flip out or flip up detergent tray, an in-the-door silverware rack.
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