A three-year-old girl died after getting her head stuck in a play kitchen at her babysitter’s home, an autopsy report has confirmed.
Briella Holmes died after getting trapped in part of the play set in a freak accident that starved her brain of oxygen, the new report said.
She also suffered injuries to her eyes, heart and lungs during the tragic incident in Boynton Beach, Florida, on July 23.
The youngster passed away four days later.
The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner previously told the Daily Mail that the child’s manner of death was an ‘accident’ caused by ‘probable positional asphyxia,’ while Boynton Beach Police shared an image of the playset as a warning to parents.
Palm Beach Medical Examiner Catherine Miller, who conducted Briella’s autopsy, confirmed the little girl’s body was identified by her mother Suzi Holmes.
The report states that Briella and her four-year-old brother, Brock, were dropped off at the babysitter’s home on Sandpiper Way in Meadows of Boynton Beach on the morning of July 23.
Briella Holmes, three, suffered a freak accident involving a toy kitchen set and died of suffocation after becoming stuck, a medical examiner has told the Daily Mail
The kitchen play set involved in the suffocation death of a three-year-old girl is seen above. It was bought second hand on Facebook Marketplace investigators were unable to identify the brand. But they say other similar toys remain available to buy online and have warned parents to be cautious
Detective Jervis Daley said the babysitter left the residence at some point that morning to go to the store, leaving the children in the care of her husband Kerven Oreste.
‘During that time, Mr Oreste reportedly remained upstairs while the kids played downstairs,’ the report reads. ‘Mr Oreste would periodically check on the kids.’
Detective Daley said that at about 11am, Oreste went downstairs and found Briella with her head stuck in the ‘oven’ – a small wooden hole carved into the toy kitchen.
The report describes her as being found ‘unresponsive’ in the playset.
Oreste lifted her from the toy and called his wife, who then contacted a neighbor, who rushed to the home and performed CPR on the child.
They called 911 at 11.07am. Boynton Beach Fire Rescue responded and transported Briella to St Mary’s Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with anoxic brain injury, which occurs when brain cells die after oxygen is cut off.
Tragically, Briella was declared brain dead hours later. Detective Daley said there was ‘no visual trauma to the body or any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.’
Boynton Beach Police previously shared an image of the playset involved in the freak accident, which they said was purchased second hand through Facebook Marketplace.
Briella passed away on July 27 after the incident which unfolded four days before at a babysitter’s house in Meadows of Boynton Beach. She is pictured with her brother, Brock
Briella’s heartbroken parents, Suzi and Jason Holmes, remembered her as ‘pure joy in a tiny, stubborn, independent little package’ in a tribute sent to the Daily Mail
‘The kitchen play set involved in the three-year-old’s death has no identifying markings indicating its brand, make, or model,’ the department told the Daily Mail.
‘However, similar Country Living Kitchen replica sets are currently sold online for approximately $100.’
Cops have warned parents to be aware of the dangers posed by similar play sets in the wake of Briella’s death.
The miniature kitchen comprises a small two-door cupboard with a pretend cooker top and taps beside a sink hole. The wooden set is decorated with paintings of flowers, pots and pans, wooden logs and rooster-patterned kitchen tiles.
No charges have been filed in connection with the incident.
Briella’s heartbroken mother, Suzi Holmes, 42, said that she and her husband Jason were too traumatized to speak about the death of their youngest child.
‘We are devastated, and we just can’t talk now. We are just trying to get through each day,’ she told the Mail.
Suzi and Jason Holmes remembered Briella as ‘pure joy in a tiny, stubborn, independent little package’ in a tribute shared with the Daily Mail.
‘She loved to sing, about everything and nothing, and if you spent even a few minutes with her, you knew it right away,’ they said.
The medical examiner told the Daily Mail on Tuesday that the child’s manner of death was an ‘accident’ caused by ‘probable positional asphyxia.’ Briella is pictured with her brother
Briella died after getting her head stuck in a kitchen playset while being cared for by a babysitter in Meadows of Boynton Beach, Florida, pictured above
The parents added that Briella was ‘kind from the very beginning’ of her short life and ‘the kind of kid who lit up a room without even trying.’
‘She adored her big brother, Brock, with her whole heart,’ they said. ‘Briella, you were, and always will be, one of our life’s little miracles.’
The family has also launched a fundraiser to cover Briella’s funeral and memorial expenses.
‘Thank you for your love, support, and generosity as we honor Briella’s life and cherish the memories she gave us,’ they wrote on the page.
