TAMPA, Fla. — An investigation is underway into what led up to a young girl's death at a Tampa motel.
Police responded just after 2 a.m. Monday to the Sunset Inn Motel located at 4712 E. Hillsborough Ave., on a report of an unresponsive 4-year-old, according to a Tampa Police Department news release.
Her family identified her to 10 Tampa Bay as Nova Thomas. Her aunt Natalie Denson says Nova was at the motel with her father at the time.
"Her dad said her stomach was hurting and he gave her a laxative and left her in the bathroom and when he went back to check on her she was unresponsive," Benson said.
Rescuers attempted life-saving measures upon arrival, police said. Thomas was taken to an area hospital, where she later died.
Denson says she wants investigators to find out what exactly happened to her niece. She says Nova previously lived with her for three years and she feels like a daughter to her.
“We do want justice for her and we are going to make sure that happens no matter what," she explained.
The police department says they are waiting for autopsy results to come back.
If you want to donate to the family as they plan Nova's funeral, you can here.
