Mystery surrounds death of 3-month-old

A Trelawny mother is refuting claims that her three-month-old son died because of incense that was burning in her home.

The newborn, who has been identified as Ian Scott, otherwise called 'Omari', died last Thursday in his home. When THE STAR visited the small farming community of Troy, several residents said that there was a death in the family a few months ago, and that they heard that Ian's relatives were burning incense in the bedroom to drive away ghosts. They surmised that the burning of the incense caused the child to suffocate.

However, Arlene Hyman, the infant's mother, flatly denied the claim.

"A lie people a tell. Neither me nor nobody inna the house neva did a burn anything inna the room, a pure lie them a tell," she said.

One of Ian's aunts also swore on her life that nothing was lit inside the room.

"Nobody neva did a burn anything. As mi raise mi right hand to God, mi sure seh no incense never did lite up yah," the woman stated. The aunt said Hyman was a capable mother who loved all her children and would never do anything to hurt them, especially her baby boy.

She confirmed that one of their sisters died a few months ago, and that her remains were buried in the yard. She also revealed that the sister died leaving a child who is disabled, and that the child was also lying on the bed beside Ian at the time of his death.

"So there is no way wi could light any form a incense inna the room, and further more, not even mosquito destroyer wi light een deh, because a mi little sick nephew," she said.

The Trelawny police told THE STAR that they received a report that the mother was at home with her baby, and left him for a few minutes to take a shower.

The police further reported that upon her return, she noticed that the child was motionless on the bed and raised an alarm. The police were summoned and upon arrival the baby was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead. A senior cop said that lawmen are awaiting a post-mortem.