“After a thorough scene investigation, a general police investigation, autopsy reports, and toxicology reports, I have concluded that Wiley Ryder Adams who died on November 16, 2013, died as a result of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy,” said Dr. Trainor. “The cause of death is undetermined and the manner of death is undetermined.”

Coroner’s Statement:

January 17, 2014

RE: Wiley Ryder Adams

DOB: May 12, 2013

DOD: November 16, 2013

This 6-month-old infant from Kensington, PEI was pronounced dead at the Prince County Hospital Emergency Department by Dr. Scott Cameron at approximately 0400 hrs on November 16, 2013.

Dr. Cameron contacted me as Coroner on call that day and we discussed the possibility of this being a SIDS Death (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), death under 1 year of age.

I asked Dr. Cameron to have the Kensington police to do a scene investigation. The police sought the help of the RCMP forensic unit from Charlottetown and a detailed examination of the scene was carried out.

The Kensington police department carried out an extensive general investigation of this incident. The parents were interviewed as were other people in the apartment building, and the family doctor was also contacted by a member of the police department to see if she had any information for the investigation.

An autopsy was carried out on November 17, 2013, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The autopsy states that no obvious anatomical cause of death was found so this is a negative autopsy.

The toxicology report received was negative.

The scene investigation carried out by the RCMP forensic unit and the Kensington police uncovered a number of risk factors. Cigarette smoking was identified as was bed sharing. The infant was in bed with the parents. The parents awoke around 3 a.m. and found the infant unresponsive. 911 was called, CPR was initiated by the parents, EMS and the fire department arrived on the scene. The infant was then taken to the Prince County Hospital where he could not be resuscitated.

Because risk factors were found in the scene, this was not a SIDS death. This is a Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy (SUDI), which is death of an infant under one year of age where the autopsy does not identify a cause of death, but the investigation (examination of the scene, the police investigation, review of clinical history) reveals positive findings. These findings do not definitely establish a cause of death, but exclude the diagnosis of SIDS.

Bed sharing where the infant is in bed with adults is a very dangerous practice. I urge all parents and caregivers to avoid this practice when caring for infants.

We have a SIDS/SUDI death every 1-2 years in the province. These deaths are very tragic to the families and to society. Removing all risk factors will lower the rate of SIDS/SIDU in our province.

After a thorough scene investigation, a general police investigation, autopsy reports, and toxicology reports, I have concluded that Wiley Ryder Adams who died on November 16, 2013, died as a result of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy. The cause of death is undetermined and the manner of death is undetermined.

Charles St. Clair Trainor, M.D.,CCFP, LM

Chief Coroner, Province of Prince Edward Island

(902) 628-6974