From Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — The 5-year-old Trussville kindergarten student who died on Monday has been identified. Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates identified the child as Khloe Teresa Williamson, 5, of Trussville. She lived in the Hawk Ridge neighborhood.
“The decedent was found unresponsive by family inside the family residence,” Yates said in the report. “An autopsy was performed on 11/13/2023, with the cause of death pending additional laboratory studies. The Trussville Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.”
Trussville Police Chief Eric Rush said the preliminary autopsy revealed no signs of trauma or foul play. Police are awaiting the toxicology report to make a final determination in the case, but say the death appears accidental.
The child was found dead inside a laundry hamper in a Trussville residence on Monday, Nov. 13.
Trussville Police Department (TPD) officers responded at 6:39 a.m. to a residence in the Hawk Ridge subdivision where the girl was found inside a laundry hamper, according to Trussville Police Chief Eric Rush.
She was taken to St. Vincent’s East by Trussville Fire and Rescue where she was pronounced dead. The cause of death is still pending laboratory results.
“All indications at this time point to an accidental death,” said Rush. “But we’ll need to wait until the autopsy is complete to make a final determination.”
Dr. Patrick Martin, Superintendent of Trussville City Schools, issued a statement Monday evening addressing the death of a kindergarten student.
Martin said in a statement that he was notified Monday morning that a kindergarten student had passed away.
“The child was the daughter of a teacher in the Trussville City School System,” he said. “This student was a precious, smart and inquisitive child whose heartbreaking loss has affected us all.
“This is a very sad and tragic event, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family. We are arranging to have counselors on-site for our students and staff in the wake of this tragedy.
“We are more than a school system in Trussville, we are a family. Something like this touches us all and we will provide support to the family in the coming days and weeks as they deal with this tragic loss.”