The Trumbull County Coroner's office confirmed Wednesday that 21-month-old Tiffany Sue Banks-Cross's death was a homicide. However, officials will not say how the child, who was in foster care, died saying the case is still being investigated.
"I broke down. It's just hard," said Loretta Banks, Tiffany's biological grandmother, explaining her reaction when the coroner told her the news.
Tiffany's biological family lost permanent custody of the child shortly after her birth in June 2007. The Trumbull County Children Services Board took custody and the child was in foster care.
Banks say she and her daughter, Felicia, Tiffany's mother, and other family members visited with Tiffany until they lost custody in November. They say the child appeared happy and healthy so they were shocked when the got a call in April saying she had died.
They say officials first thought she had died of natural causes. "They first said she died of a heart attack or a virus running through her body," Felicia Banks said. But, the family said they saw bruises on her body at the funeral. A Trumbull County 911 report says police were called at noon April 2 saying the child was not breathing. "I knew in my heart something happened to her, but it hurts," Loretta said. "Now we never get to see her."
Children Service officials say they cannot discuss the issue at this time but are devastated and are cooperating fully with prosecutors.
Meanwhile, no arrests have been made and Trumbull County prosecutors tell us the investigation is ongoing.
