AG finds suffocation, malnutrition led to toddler death

Mercedes Tremblay, 25, and Mason Tremblay (Courtesy/Phaneuf Funderal Home)

CONCORD - The December deaths of a Manchester mother and her toddler son were found to be the result of her committing suicide while her two-year-old died of suffocation, according to a statement from the attorney general's office on Wednesday.

The conclusion comes after autopsies were performed on Mercedes Tremblay, 25, and Mason Tremblay and subsequent medical and investigatory information came to light, officials say.

The incident unfolded on Dec. 14 when officers from the Manchester Police Department responded to an apartment at 1345 Bodwell Road in Manchester, where they found Ms. Tremblay deceased on her bed, as well as her son, Mason, who officers found deceased in his bedroom closet.

Bedroom furniture had been placed against the outside of the closet door, preventing Mason from fully opening the door. Mason's body was found pinned in the partially open door, between the closet door and doorframe.

Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Mitchell Weinberg found that Ms. Tremblay's cause of death was a gunshot to the head and that Mason's was compressional asphyxia due to being pinned between the closet door and doorframe. Malnutrition was identified as a contributory cause of death.

Compressional asphyxia is the impediment of respiratory structures that ultimately precludes an individual's ability to breathe. Dr. Weinberg determined Mason's manner of death was homicide.

Based upon the information available at this time, it appears that Ms. Tremblay caused the death of Mason, the AG's statement read.

Further information will be released at the final conclusion of the investigation.