Emerson Marcus

Reno Gazette-Journal

Emergency workers responded to a report of a baby in distress

The baby was pronounced dead%2C but later showed signs of life at the medical examiner%27s office

Back at the hospital%2C the infant did not survive%2C despite life-saving efforts

RENO, Nev. — An infant who was pronounced dead and transported to the medical examiner's office was found to be alive before ultimately being declared dead a second time, police said.

Emergency workers responded Thursday afternoon to a report of a baby in distress, according to Reno police Lt. William Rulla.

Later, the baby was pronounced dead for the first time and taken to the medical examiner for a death investigation, he said.

While in custody of the medical examiner, the baby showed signs of life, Rulla said.

"Sometime after the infant's arrival, personnel at the Medical Examiner's Office believed they heard the infant breathe and they initiated life saving efforts," police said in a statement Thursday.

The baby was returned to Renown Regional Medical Center, but could not be saved.

"Although the infant initially responded to these efforts, the infant was ultimately declared to be deceased," the police statement said.

The infant's name, age and gender were not released.

Renown spokeswoman Angela Rambo said that without the infant's name, she could not provide any information per Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines.

Reno police are investigating the home of the infant's mother and father as a crime scene, but Rulla emphasized the investigation is still in a preliminary stage.

Rulla said that in his 18 years on the force, he had never heard of an infant surviving after being pronounced dead.