February 16, 2006

SYCUAN INDIAN RESERVATION – Sheriff's detectives are investigating after a child died yesterday, apparently while waiting in a car with his father outside Sycuan Casino while the mother was inside.

The cause of death was unknown.

It wasn't clear last night whether the case involved a homicide or an accidental death, said sheriff's Lt. Dennis Brugos of the homicide unit.

Brugos said he didn't know when the family arrived at the casino on Sycuan Road south of Dehesa Road. Investigators were reviewing security camera tapes in hopes of seeing the mother going inside or the car.

Richard Baca told authorities that he and his son waited in the car. They were parked in a customer self-parking lot a distance from the main entrance.

Baca said he took the boy out of his car seat for a while, then put him back in it. At some point the father fell asleep. He woke to find Thomas not breathing, Brugos said.

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