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California mom collapses, dies while feeding baby who then chokes to death

Posted at 6:26 AM, Oct 07, 2015
and last updated 2015-10-07 06:28:17-04

LOS ANGELES -- A California woman and her 1-year-old son were found dead Monday in an apartment as a 2-year-old boy had to fend for himself for days, KTLA reports.

Officers discovered the scene after a neighbor called 911. KTLA reported officers found the bodies of a woman in her mid-40s and a young boy.

Although authorities have not released the woman's name, a family friend identified her as Erika Tomassian. A neighbor said she used to babysit Tomassian's two adopted sons, Michael and Nathan.

It appears Tomassian collapsed and died while feeding her 1-year-old son, who was strapped into a chair. Officials believe the young boy then choked on food and died.

The two had been dead for about two days before they were found, police told KTLA. The 2-year-old boy was found alive but suffering from severe dehydration.

Police say Tomassian recently had been treated for bronchitis and might have died from complications from the illness.

No foul play is suspected, police said.