Essex County Prosecutors Investigate Recent Deaths Of 5 Children

Prosecutors in one Massachusetts jurisdiction are investigating the recent deaths of five children, including three who were involved with the state child welfare agency.

A spokeswoman for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said Thursday that the office is required by law to investigate all unattended or unexpected deaths, and an investigation does not mean that the deaths were criminal in nature.

The spokeswoman says the three children involved with the state Department of Children and Families were a 4-week-old boy who died in Haverhill in April; a 3-month-old boy in foster care in Methuen who died in April; and a 15-month-old girl in foster care in Lawrence who died Sunday.

No details on the other two deaths were released.