The 14-month-old baby, found lifeless in his cradle, would have died of natural causes, but the circumstances of his death are still unclear, as he would have been previously treated by an ophthalmologist, a family doctor, using homeopathy. The autopsy, ordered by the Public Prosecutor’s Office to shed light on the tragedy that shook Salento, was carried out by the coroner Roberto Vaglio, assisted by the pediatrician Nicola Laforgia. Previously, the public prosecutor Maria Consolata Moschettini entered the child’s parents and an ophthalmologist in the register of suspects respectively for the crimes of manslaughter and negligent responsibility for death in the health sector and then conferred the task for the autopsy examination. This is a necessary act to allow the investigators to carry out all the investigative investigations useful for the exact reconstruction of the facts. The suspects, through their lawyers, have appointed a consultant. Meanwhile, what had emerged in the immediacy of the tragedy would find confirmation. The child would have died of natural causes, also because he had no signs of violence on his body.

Based on what would have emerged in these hours, however, the little one had a fever for days and was visited by an ophthalmologist and then treated with homeopathy. From birth, the child would only be visited once by the pediatrician and the prescribed tests would never be performed.

The complete results of the autopsy will be known within the next three months, because some histological investigations will be needed, to dispel any doubts about the causes of the child’s death.

The tragedy occurred on the afternoon of 7 June in Casamassella (hamlet of Uggiano la Chiesa). It was the 118 health workers who confirmed the death of the little one, after the parents alerted the emergency services by telephone. Unfortunately, every attempt to revive the child was in vain. The parents were alarmed because the baby, who was in the cradle, did not wake up despite their requests. The investigations are entrusted to the police officers of the Otranto police station assisted by the carabinieri of the Minervino station.

Initially, the return of the child’s body to the family had also been arranged. Subsequently, the judicial authority ordered the transfer of the little body to the mortuary of the Vito Fazzi hospital in Lecce, to carry out the autopsy, which was performed today.