Deceased Ramona Child Was Former Abuse Victim

A child who died in Ramona overnight was once the victim of child abuse in the city of San Diego, according to a Sheriff's Department news release Tuesday.

At about 12:28 a.m Tuesday, the Sheriff's Communications Center received a call about a child in medical distress in the 1000 block of Olive Avenue, Ramona, according to the news release.

Deputies arrived and learned paramedics from the Ramona Fire Department had determined the boy had died. Detectives from the Sheriff's Child Abuse Unit and Homicide Detail responded, as well as the Sheriff's Crime Lab. 

During the investigation, detectives learned the deceased child had been the victim of child abuse in the city of San Diego approximately six years earlier, according to the release. 

A cause and manner of death, as well as positive identification of the child will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office. The child's name has not been released. The Medical Examiner's Office states that close family have not yet been notified.

 that the boy may have been chronically ill, with special needs. Ramona Fire Department declined to give any further information about the child's condition, his location or any known health issues, citing health privacy laws.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321 or after hours at (858) 565-5200 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS(8477).