Mother arrested after child dies from diabetes
Nov 21, 2025, 3:13 PM | Updated: 3:34 pm
A Kirkland Police Department vehicle. (Photo courtesy of the City of Kirkland)
(Photo courtesy of the City of Kirkland)
Kirkland police arrested a 42-year-old woman accused of failing to get her diabetic daughter medical help. The 10-year-old girl slipped into a coma and died.
Detectives are recommending that prosecutors charge the woman with first-degree manslaughter. She’s being held on $1 million bail.
“This was a complex and emotionally challenging investigation,” Kirkland Police Department Chief Mike St. Jean said.
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Probe into Kirkland mother began in July
The probe began in July when Child Protective Services contacted police in Kirkland, where the woman lives, after she brought the girl’s body to a Tacoma hospital.
Police said they worked with medical professionals, the Pierce County Medical Examiner, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Investigators learned that the child had Type 1 diabetes and died from prolonged diabetic ketoacidosis.
Detectives concluded that a lack of medical care contributed to her death.
“We remain committed to protecting our community’s most vulnerable residents, especially children who cannot advocate for themselves,” St. Jean said in a statement.
You can report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Family Services at 1-866-END-HARM. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
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