Death of infant now being treated as "suspicious," family members arrested

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee police say the June 1st sudden death of 11-month-old Mathis Freeman is now being treated as suspicious -- and three of the child's family members were arrested. One remains in custody.

Officials say the incident, purported to have happened in the neighborhood near 70th and Locust actually occurred in a home on N. 42nd Street just south of Capitol Drive.

Mathis Freeman would have turned one in July.

"I don`t know what to think. A child that young -- I mean, I just hope that there was no suffering. I hope that the family gets closure and that there`s peace," Maurice Shirley, a neighbor said.

The baby died in a home across the street from where Shirley lives.

"You never know anyone behind their doors," Shirley said.

Police say they got a call around 1:10 p.m. on June 1st from the home on 42nd Street -- but they were first directed to 70th Street, where family members told them the baby had died. Police later learned the baby actually died at the home on 42nd Street.

Milwaukee police say three family members were arrested in connection with this case. One remains in the Milwaukee County Jail.

Officials say one of the three family members was arrested for obstructing an officer, another for aiding a felon and another for neglect causing death.

These charges are pending review by the Milwaukee County Distr

ict Attorney’s Office.

"It's sad. That's actually a tragedy," Aniyah McGriff, a neighbor said.

FOX6 News has learned the name of the one family member who is still in custody. We are not naming him because he has not been formally charged.

This suspect was charged in another case out of Dodge County in April with one count of physical abuse of a child. The victim in that case is a different child.

An autopsy has been performed on Mathias Freeman, but the results have been put on non-disclosure by the Milwaukee Police Department.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.