Two infant drownings on same day under investigation

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003 | 9:50 a.m.

Two unrelated infant drownings are under investigation by Metro Police after a 10-month-old baby died Tuesday night.

Nickole Bibian died at Sunrise Children's Hospital, where she was taken after she slipped under water in a bathtub at the South Cove Apartments in the 1500 block of East Fremont Street Monday afternoon, a coroner's office spokeswoman said.

The baby's organs were being donated.

Funeral services for Kody David Sturgin, 9 months old, who drowned in a bathtub also on Monday, were scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Good Shephard Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at Paradise Memorial Gardens.

Visitation was scheduled from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Bunker Mortuary.

Kody drowned at a home in the 6000 block of Glacier Avenue, near Lake Mead Boulevard and Mount Hood Street.

Clark County Fire Department rescuers took the boy to University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 5:15 p.m. on Monday.

The child has a twin sister, Zoey R. Sturgin, who was not injured.

In addition to his sister, Kody Sturgin is survived by parents David and Renee Sturgin, both of Las Vegas, grandmother Jane Hicks of Las Vegas and grandfather James Sturgin of Henderson.

The Metro Police Protective Services Unit is investigating both incidents, unit supervisor Lisa Teele said.

In both cases the parents were away from the bathrooms at the time of the incidents.

After autopsies have been completed, the two cases will be sent to the district attorney's office for review, Teele said. The police are investigating the cases for possible negligence charges.