Toddler may have spent 3 days with mom's body

A 3-year-old girl may have spent as many as three days in a St. Paul apartment with the body of her dead mother, who appeared to have died of natural causes.

Last update: January 23, 2008 - 10:16 PM

A 3-year-old girl may have spent as many as three days in a St. Paul apartment with the body of her dead mother.

Police found Shanta Hamiel, 22, and her daughter in their Afton View Apartment at 373 Winthrop St. S., late Tuesday night. Hamiel, who was pregnant, appears to have died of natural causes, possibly as early as Saturday, said police spokesman Tom Walsh.

Her body was discovered by a friend who had been worried about her, and who let herself into the apartment through an unlocked front door, Walsh said.

Police said that Hamiel, who had been sick last week, was last seen Saturday. She was found dead about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Her daughter apparently had been able to feed herself in the meantime, Walsh said. The child has been turned over to a relative's care, he said.

"She seemed to be concerned for mommy, but otherwise, she was doing pretty well," Walsh said.

The Ramsey County medical examiner's office had not determined a cause of death Wednesday. A spokesman said Wednesday afternoon that there appeared to be no trauma, but that further tests were needed.

ANTHONY LONETREE

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