The death of a 1-year-old girl is being investigated as a possible drowning.
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia police are investigating the death of a 1-year-old girl who was found unresponsive Thursday evening inside a home in Kensington and later died at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.
The emergency response began shortly after 7 p.m. on the 1800 block of East Somerset Street. Authorities said the girl was taken by medics to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 7:49 p.m.
Police said the first details gathered at the scene suggested a possible drowning. Chief Inspector Scott Small said officers found a large basin filled with water in a bathroom on the second floor. He said investigators also found water across much of the dining room area on the first floor.
Small said police did not yet know exactly what led to the child’s death. “We’re not really certain what happened at this time,” he said. Officials did not say who was watching the child, who else was inside the home or when she was last seen responsive.
The Philadelphia Police Department’s Special Victims Unit is leading the investigation. Detectives were working to obtain a search warrant to process the home, a step that allows investigators to photograph the scene, collect evidence and review the layout of the property.
Police have not announced arrests or charges. The child’s identity has not been released. Authorities said the investigation will depend on evidence from the home, witness interviews and medical findings from officials reviewing the death.
As of Friday, police had not released a final ruling on the cause or manner of death. The case remained open while detectives continued to examine what happened inside the Kensington residence.
Author note: Last updated June 12, 2026.