The temperature in the border city reached 120 degrees on the day Tanna Rae Wroblewski died. Authorities said she had a 'heat-related illness.'
An Inland couple is mourning the death of their infant daughter as Arizona authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the 4-month-old, who lapsed into unconsciousness on a boat during an abnormally hot day on Lake Havasu.
The mother is Alyssa Wroblewski, according to a GoFundMe page established to raise money for funeral expenses. The father is Matthew Wroblewski, a Riverside police detective, the city said.
“Tanna Rae Wroblewski, our real-life angel, became an angel in heaven. We are beyond devastated, heartbroken; there are just no words,” the GoFundMe posting says. “Enjoying a family day on the lake turned into the most unimaginable day of their lives.”
The death happened on July 5. Anita Mortensen, a spokeswoman for the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, said the infant was taken to Lake Havasu Regional Medical Center for treatment of a “heat-related illness” around 5 p.m. She was later flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Detectives are conducting an investigation, Mortensen said.
Authorities have not accused anyone of a crime.
The temperature around the time of the medical emergency was 117 degrees, down from the day’s high of 120 degrees, according to weatherunderground.com, and winds were blowing at 20 mph at the time. The average high temperature for that date and location is 110 degrees, the site states. The National Weather Service had issued an excessive-heat advisory.
Other circumstances surrounding the baby’s death were unclear on Friday, July 12. It wasn’t publicly known if the baby had a pre-existing medical condition, how the parents may have attempted to keep her cool and what the temperature on the boat was at the time.
A voice message was left on Matthew Wroblewski’s phone on Friday seeking comment.
