The mother of an 8-month-old girl found dead Wednesday from a head injury was arrested in connection with the death.
A relative with the girl’s mother called Colorado Springs police about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to an apartment parking lot on East Pikes Peak Avenue. The girl’s body was in a car seat in a green minivan.
Tracie Preston, 36, was arrested on suspicion of child abuse resulting in death.
She is being held at the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center in lieu of $25,000 bail.
“She had picked up a relative nearby and told the relative she thought the baby was dead,” said police Lt. Sal Fiorillo. “(They) pulled into a parking lot nearby, and the relative called the police.”
It appears the child, whose name was not released, had been dead eight to 12 hours before police were called, Fiorillo said.
An autopsy determined the child died from acute blunt force trauma to the head, said Fiorillo. The coroner ruled it was a homicide, he said.
Police are investigating how the injury occurred. They do not know if Preston is married, Fiorillo said.
A check of Colorado Bureau of Investigation records reveals that she has no prior criminal history in Colorado.
Preston’s 2-year-old daughter was in the van at the time. She was unhurt and has been turned over to social services, he said.
Preston’s initial court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.
Staff writer Julianne Bentley can be reached at jbentley@denverpost.com.
