Probe continues in South Pittsburg toddler's death

A South Pittsburg Police Department patrol car is shown.
A South Pittsburg Police Department patrol car is shown.
photo South Pittsburg Police Department Chief Bobby Simpson

Authorities investigating the Friday death of a South Pittsburg, Tenn., toddler had few details to release Tuesday.

The state medical examiner's office will classify the death of 2-year-old Zayne "Nugget" Harper as a homicide, South Pittsburg Police Chief Bobby Simpson said Tuesday. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is the lead investigating agency on the incident, the chief said.

Zayne was injured while his mother's 17-year-old boyfriend was watching him, the chief said. The toddler was the son of South Pittsburg resident Essence Robinson and Eddie Harper, who lives just across the state line in Jackson County, Ala., he said.

Simpson said Zayne died Friday at a Chattanooga hospital where he was being treated for massive internal injuries he sustained in an incident that is still murky, with few details to describe what happened to the toddler.

"What we know is that the child suffered massive internal injuries and that the child died of those injuries," Simpson said.

A ruling of homicide doesn't necessarily indicate intentional wrongdoing, the chief noted.

"A homicide is an unnatural death," Simpson said.

Authorities hope an autopsy will clear up the details.

"We're still trying to figure out what happened to this little boy," Simpson said. The minor boyfriend's "adopted parents," who live near the scene of the incident, could see there was a problem from their home, he said.

"When they saw that the child was struggling and having trouble, they got help," he said.

Simpson said authorities were notified by hospital staff at Parkridge West hospital in Jasper that a child had been severely injured and needed to be transported further to Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga for treatment.

Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Mike Taylor said TBI agents conducted interviews over the weekend with people who had access to the child.

"They will be working at the scene and everything that is collected will probably have to go to the crime lab," he said.

Taylor said completed autopsy results could take a while.

"With children it typically takes longer than usual," he said. "I suspect I won't get the autopsy until they generate the final report. That could be weeks."

The TBI did not respond Tuesday to an inquiry about the investigation.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.

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