Watauga officials investigate infant's death

Journal Staff Report

Published: June 2, 2008

BOONE — The Watauga County Sheriff's Office and the Watauga County District Attorney's Office are investigating the death last week of a nine-month-old girl left in a vehicle.

Octavia Miller died of hyperthermia, according to autopsy results released yesterday by the Sheriff's Office. Hyperthermia is a general term for a variety of heat-related conditions, including heatstroke.

Officers responded at 5:37 p.m. Thursday to a 911 call from a house on Morning Dove Lane. The caller said a baby had stopped breathing.

The high for that afternoon was 73, according to the National Weather Service.

Watauga District Attorney Jerry Wilson said he expects a report on the death later in the week.

Octavia's funeral is Tuesday afternoon.