Puyallup Infant's Death In Blanket Likely Accidental: Pierce County Sheriff

PUYALLUP, WA - The story of a Puyallup mother whose 7-month-old son died Monday after getting caught in a blanket has made headlines around the world. Jordan DeRosier felt compelled to open up to the world about the death after vaccine-deniers began spreading a rumor that her son, Sloan, had died after being given a booster shot. DeRosier went on Facebook to correct the accusers, and to spread the word about the dangers of leaving infants sleeping with blankets.

On Thursday, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department appears to have confirmed DeRosier's story about the death. The department said it is still conducting an investigation into Sloan's death, but it "appears to be an accidental death." The sheriff's office is still waiting on final word from the Pierce County Medical Examiner on a cause.

"[The department] will not be releasing any additional details at this time, pending further investigation and out of respect for the family during their time of grief," the department said in a statement. The department said it has been contacted "numerous" times by media and members of the public about DeRosier's story.

DeRosier's heartbreaking story has been covered everywhere from New Zealand to Good Housekeeping Magazine. She taped an interview on Thursday with the TODAY show.

DeRosier's original Facebook post shows her lying in bed with her other son, and describes how she put Sloan to bed the night he died.

"He was last laid down to bed with this blanket made by his great-great grandmother, and one other blanket, a grey one he had been attached to since birth. They took the grey one he had been found with his head in. He had pulled it through the crib rails somehow and gotten himself stuck in it. You never think it will happen to you. You never think it will be your baby. Please do not put your babies to bed with a blanket. Please.

"He was 7 months old, I thought because he was crawling, standing on his own, and climbing, that he would be fine with a blanket. This is the face of immense, unfathomable grief, the face of longing, of heartbreak, of self inflicted GUILT. I will NEVER stop feeling responsible. I will relive this for the rest of my life knowing EXACTLY what I could have done differently. Please learn from my world shattering mistake.

In a followup to the original post, DeRosier goes into deeper detail - describing the moment she found Sloan in his crib, and how suddenly she found herself being interviewed by detectives.

DeRosier has written updates throughout the week about her family in the wake of Sloan's death. She has said that the family has been overwhelmed by messages of support. And, she feels that her post might end up saving the lives of other children from a household item that's commonly - and lovingly - placed in the cribs of babies across the world.

"Sloan's story is reaching millions. I know ultimately what my post is doing is saving the lives of other babies. Sloan has done his job, his light shines on us all," she wrote.

Image via Facebook.com