CHESTERTON | The 6-month-old Chesterton boy who died of child abuse this week was fine when he was in his parents' care, but became unresponsive hours after he was dropped off at a Liberty Township day care center, according to the attorney for the boy's parents.
Attorney Bob Harper said the baby, Nicholas Munden, was dropped off at the day care center at 6:45 or 7 a.m. Sept. 19 so his parents could go to work. The baby's father, Brett Munden, is assistant principal at Portage High School and the baby's mother, Jessica Munden, teaches at the same school.
About 12:45 p.m. Sept. 19, the parents were notified that Nicholas was unresponsive. The child was taken to Porter Valparaiso Hospital Campus, then airlifted to the University of Chicago Hospitals. Nicholas, who was determined to be brain dead, was taken off life support and died Monday.
The Cook County medical examiner's office ruled the death a homicide and shared its findings with the Porter County Sheriff's Department.
"The police are investigating this and my clients are cooperating," Harper said.
"This child, over a month ago, was at the day care and became ill and was ill for several days and was eventually taken to Chicago for treatment. It seemed to be resolved and ... the child was taken (back) to the day care."
Nicholas had a twin brother, Andrew, who also went to the day care center, but Harper declined to comment about whether Andrew suffered any harm, citing the "ongoing investigation." Police confirmed they are looking into whether Andrew was abused.
Harper said the day care center where Nicholas became unresponsive was licensed at one time, but was unlicensed at the time Nicholas became unresponsive.
Porter County Sheriff David Lain and Porter County Prosecutor Brian Gensel said Nicholas' death remains under investigation, but no charges were immediately expected.
"The status of the investigation is that people are being interviewed and probably will continue to be in the short term -- maybe another week," Lain said.
"We're going to investigate all possible avenues and whatever the evidence points to."
Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home in Portage. There is a private service Saturday at the funeral home.
