Loveland – The aunt of a 12-year-old girl who died suddenly over the weekend said Tuesday that the family is as baffled as authorities are as to what caused her death.
Nikole Berthoud died Saturday evening, only hours after being cited for underage drinking. Police, however, have been careful to say there is no connection at this point between the drinking citation and the girl’s death.
When paramedics showed up at the girl’s house Saturday, there was no evidence of a crime, and no obvious clues to indicate how she died, said Loveland police Sgt. Rae Bontz. An autopsy revealed no obvious cause of death, the Larimer County coroner’s office said.
On Tuesday, Stephanie Berthoud, Nikole’s aunt, said the girl’s family is devastated by the death. But, she said, the family doesn’t have any clues to its cause.
“She was a beautiful little girl,” Stephanie Berthoud said. “Everybody loved her.”
Bontz said police aren’t currently investigating the death and won’t unless the coroner’s tests reveal something potentially criminal. The coroner’s office is awaiting the results of microscopic and chemical tests.
While police have confirmed few details in the case, including Nikole’s name, Bontz said authorities aren’t withholding any information from the public about a possible cause of death.
“We don’t have any side information we’re withholding,” he said. “We don’t know. We’re waiting to see if we should take an active part.”
Stephanie Berthoud said Nikole spent Friday night at a friend’s house.
About 1:30 Saturday afternoon, a Loveland resident called police and said there was an intoxicated girl in her driveway on East Seventh Street, several blocks from Nikole’s home. Police arrived and ticketed three juveniles, including Nikole, for underage drinking, Bontz said.
Paramedics also showed up, examined the kids and, after conferring with a doctor, decided to release them to their parents.
“Everything was done correctly by everyone at that time,” Bontz said.
At just after 7 p.m., paramedics were called to the Berthoud home in south Loveland because Nikole was having medical problems. They performed CPR, then took her to McKee Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
At Bill Reed Middle School, where Nikole was a seventh-grader, staff members met early in the morning to discuss how to deal with the death. Extra counselors also were on hand Tuesday, the first school day after Nikole’s death.
Principal Todd Ball said he wanted to make sure staff members knew the facts and said he wanted to stop rumors from spreading.
“It’s a very tough day at school,” he said. “It’s a tragedy.”
Memorial services for Nikole will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Allnutt Hunter Chapel, 2100 N. Lincoln Ave. in Loveland. Contributions for her memorial fund can be sent to the same place.
Staff writer John Ingold can be reached at 720-929-0898 or jingold@denverpost.com.
