Video: Neighbors Learn News Of Child's Death

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner says Sirita Sotelo died of "homicidal violence." She died last Friday night.

Officers removed five other children from the home on 101st Avenue Northeast, where the girl lived for more than a year.

Sheriff's officials said the girl's mother is jail on drug charges, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.

A woman called 911 on Friday night to report that a child was unconscious and not breathing, said Deputy Rich Niebusch, a sheriff's spokesman. The girl died before deputies arrived.

Niebusch wouldn't discuss why the death was being investigated as a homicide. He said deputies took the other children and placed them with Child Protective Services "for safety reasons."

Those children, two boys and three girls ranging in age from 11 months to 8 years, were not injured. He didn't know their relationship to the 4-year-old.

"I had my suspicions that it wasn't the most desirable home environment, but what parents are perfect," said Stephanie Carr, a neighbor. "At what point do you stick your nose in it?"

The death was omitted from sheriff's reports requested by The Herald newspaper over the weekend and on Monday and Tuesday. Niebusch said he was told not to mention the girl's death to reporters unless asked about it.

Sheriff Rick Bart is out of town at a conference.