North Austin Mother Arrested In Toddler's Death: Police

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — A North Austin woman has been arrested following the death of her 22-month-old daughter who she initially said had struck her head on a dresser, police said.

The incident dates to Jan. 17, when police were called to 1711 Rutland Drive just before 4 p.m. Tamara Calvery, 29, told police her daughter, Pearl Calvery — born on March 9, 2018 — had struck her head, was unconscious and having trouble breathing, according to police. Arriving officers administered CPR until medics arrived to take over medical treatment, police said in a press advisory.

The girl was rushed to Dell Children's Medical Center, where she died two days later. A subsequent autopsy revealed the cause of death to have been blunt force trauma, police said. According to police, the mother admitted during questioning to causing the injuries that led to the child's death.

"Tamara Calvery was arrested for injury to a child – serious bodily injury causing death on January 24, 2020," police wrote in a press advisory.

Detectives ask anyone with video or information on the incident to contact them by calling the homicide tip line at (512) 974-8477 (512-974-TIPS) or using the new Crime Stoppers App or emailing APD Homicide at homicide.apd@austintexas.gov. Police noted those submitting tips have the option of remaining anonymous. Those with information that could help detectives also can submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, free on iPhone and Android.

The news is the second time in just over a week that police have reported the death of a young child. Police on Feb. 10 said an infant of two months was found dead along the 5000 block of South Congress Avenue just before 4:20 p.m. in a case they later deemed not to be suspicious.

Related story: Newborn Found Dead In South Austin

Patch subsequently contacted police for an update and received the following response from a department spokesperson: "I don’t believe we will be providing any updates, as it was deemed not suspicious," the spokesperson wrote in a Feb. 11 email. "That can always change, of course. If it does, I will let you know."

Patch will update on that case if developments warrant.