Death of 2-year-old boy in June ruled homicide

The death of a 2-year-old West Side boy last summer has been ruled a homicide.

Mickel Brown’s stepfather put him down for a nap on June 18 and later noticed he wasn’t breathing, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Mickel, of the 1400 block of South Kedvale Avenue, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead about 6:30 p.m. that day, according to the medical examiner’s office.

According to autopsy results delayed for completion of toxicology tests, Mickel died of methadone toxicity and his death has been ruled a homicide, according to a spokesman for the medical examiner’s office.

Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used as a painkiller and for treatment of narcotic addiction.

DCFS launched an investigation into allegations of abuse and neglect at the time of Mickel’s death, authorities said. An agency spokeswoman could not provide an immediate update on the investigation Wednesday afternoon.

Chicago Police could not immediately say whether anyone has been charged in connection with the death.