Tangling in ribbon costs LaPlace child her life

By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Visitation services were held late Monday evening for a young LaPlace girl who accidentally strangled herself while watching television at her grandparents’ Reserve home.

Maj. Mike Tregre, a spokesperson for the St. John Sheriff’s Office, said family members found 4-year-old Destiny Champagne hanging from the bedpost of her grandparents’ bed just after 5:30 p.m. Thursday. He said the child had been playing with a ribbon she found in a closet when the ribbon became tangled in the bedpost and wrapped around her neck.

A sheriff’s office report said Champagne was watching television alone in the room while adults were elsewhere in the house. She was found by her grandmother and an aunt when they went in to check on her. Tregre said it was not clear how long she had been in the room before she was found.

The report said family members immediately cut her down and attempted to revive her before calling 911. Sheriff’s deputies and Reserve volunteer firemen responded to the call. After firemen administered CPR on Champagne, she was transported to River Parishes Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

Tregre said no foul play is suspected, and no charges have been filed. He said physical evidence on the scene and on the body point to accidental asphyxiation.

Family members for the deceased girl were unavailable for comment as of press time. A funeral was scheduled for Tuesday morning.