M.E.: Delco baby's death by heroin a homicide

A Delaware County infant who died in July succumbed to acute heroin intoxication and the death has been ruled a homicide, according to the Medical Examiner's office.

The 11-month-old Collingdale infant, Niccolo Varner, was taken by paramedics to Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital on July 15 after police were called to the home at 8:24 a.m. for a baby in respiratory distress. The child was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.

According to a Medical Examiners report, the baby ingested drugs.

The infant's mother Christine Rivero, of the 200 block of Lincoln Ave., was detained by police for possession of drug paraphernalia and questioned about the circumstances surrounding the child's death, according to a police report.

No charges were filed at the time.

Contact staff writer Mari A. Schaefer at 610-892-9149, mschaefer@phillynews.com or @MariSchaefer on Twitter.