WMC-TV 5 - Memphis, TND.A. waiting for investigators in deaths of children left home alone

D.A. waiting for investigators in deaths of children left home alone

By Nick Kenney - bio | email | Twitter | Facebook

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - A 2-year-old boy critically burned in a South Memphis house fire died Monday, exactly one week after police say his mother left the boy and his brother home alone.

According to Memphis police, Catereon Dunn, 2, passed away Monday after fighting for his life for more than a week.

The news came just two days after his brother, Ladareon Dunn, 3, was buried.

According to investigators, last Monday the boys' mother, Melanie Dunn, left the children home alone while she ran errands.

Ladareon was pronounced dead at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center that same day.  Catereon was critically injured, but officials at Le Bonheur quit releasing public updates regarding his condition after the state gained custody of him.

Investigators with the Memphis Fire Department have yet to rule on the cause of the fire, and the District Attorney's office has not charged Melanie Dunn.  Tuesday, District Attorney General Bill Gibbons explained why.

"The simple answer to your question is we're waiting to get the full investigative report before us before we make a final decision," Gibbons said.

Gibbons added that his office received the Memphis Police Department's full investigative report at 12:30 Tuesday afternoon.  Prosecutors are waiting for similar documents from the Shelby County Medical Examiner's office and the Memphis Fire Department.

Prosecutors are also waiting for a transcription of an interview of the Dunns' five-year-old brother, conducted by investigators at the Memphis Child Advocacy Center.

"I understand that the public is concerned about this matter," Gibbons said. "I'm very concerned about this matter."

But he stressed the importance of patience as investigators continue with their work.

"I think the public would agree that we have got to have all the facts before us, all the facts that are available, so that we make the absolute correct decision on that," he said.

Once prosecutors have all the information in hand, Gibbons says they'll decide quickly on whether or not to proceed with a case.

"It'll be a matter for the Grand Jury to then make a final decision," he said.

Gibbons would not elaborate, but said people are under investigation, though prosecutors are mainly focusing on just one.

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