Wednesday: Vadnais Heights girl dies after fall from window

By ABBY SIMONS, Star Tribune

Last update: April 24, 2008 - 11:00 PM

Twenty-two-month-old Norah Paulsen was the light of her Vadnais Heights apartment complex, often seen padding around in brightly colored rain boots, clapping and singing.

On Wednesday night, residents of the building along County Road D were grieving for Norah, who was killed Wednesday afternoon in 14-foot fall from the family’s apartment Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s a shock to everybody, whether you’re going to the main office to pay your rent or just passing through the main entrance,” said Maschelle Swenson, who lives next door to the apartment where Norah lived with her parents, Andrew and Kristi Paulsen, and her younger brother, Ethan. “Everyone ... knew who she was. She was just a little angel.”

Ramsey County sheriff’s investigators are working to determine just how Norah, whose name was confirmed by neighbors, fell through the window 14 feet above the ground onto concrete. Emergency responders were called to the complex at about 1:15 p.m.

Norah was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where she was pronounced dead, said sheriff’s spokeswoman Holli Drinkwine. It is believed that there was a screen on the window, she said.

“Obviously our hearts go out to these people,” Drinkwine said.

Andrew Paulsen is a student at Bethel Seminary in Arden Hills, and the family had planned to soon move to Fargo, she said. They have another child due in May.

“They’re the most loving, caring parents you could want for your children,” Swenson said. “Whatever happened was not because of neglecting parents. Both of them would have done anything for their children.”

Also Wednesday, an Andover toddler fell out of a second-story window, according to local TV reports. His injuries were not life-threatening.

Eerily, the incidents happened during National Window Safety Week.

Last summer, legislation was passed requiring the installation of safety screens on any house or apartment built or remodeled after Jan. 1, 2009. The law is called “Laela’s Law” in honor of toddler Laela Shaugobay, who in 2006 was injured in a fall from the window of a Minneapolis apartment building.

Abby Simons • 612-673-4921