Young girl found dead in East Amherst

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - A child whose death is being called "suspicious" by Amherst Police has been identified as Bianca Cartagena.

The 8 year-old was found dead Tuesday night at her mother's home in East Amherst.

Police still have several unanswered questions about how exactly the young girl died.

Police officers were called to the Candace Cartagena's home on Greengage Circle in Amherst just before 9 p.m.  Wednesday evening.  When they arrived on the scene, they found Bianca in the home, already dead.

After searching the area, police found the young girl's mother in a shed behind the house.  She was suffering from what police describe as a "self-inflicted illness".

"We don't really know what we have. We don't know if we have a homicide. We have some type of suspicious death. I'm unaware that the young girl had any medical issues or anything like that," said Amherst Police Assistance Chief Timothy Green.

According to police, Bianaca had been living with her grandmother and aunt in North Tonawanda, but was visiting her mother in East Amherst at the time of her death.

When the girl's family was unable to get ahold of the mother, they called the police.

Green said, "We're working on building a timeline and things like that. How quickly this is going to happen, I can't tell you because so much depends on that medical examination which I believe is occurring now."

Candace Cartegena had a Facebook page which read, in part, "Have a beautiful daughter, Bianca age 7, who I cannot imagine my life without. She makes me smile everyday!"

Officers said that they're not calling the mother a suspect at this time, but that she will be questioned later.  The assistant chief said the mother had no prior records, but he did confirm there was a fire at the same address a couple years ago.

An autopsy on the young girl is taking place next Wednesday.

There will likely be several toxicology tests according to authorities. However, results of those tests could take several weeks.