Toxicology results awaited in death of 6-year-old girl

ST. GEORGE — Police said they are awaiting the results of toxicology tests before closing their investigation into the death of a 6-year-old girl.

Investigators suspect that carbon monoxide poisoning killed Ona Gruenwald, of Tucson, Ariz., as she sat in an idling car on Dec. 28.

"It still appears to be an accident," St. George Police detective Jonathon McInnes said Wednesday.

Police said Gruenwald and her mother were driving from Las Vegas to Provo when their car began to have problems. Mechanics told them the car had a leak in the exhaust system.

The mother was going to check with the dealership to see if the car part was recalled and in the meantime, drove to an apartment complex where her son lived.

Police said the mother and daughter were in the car trying to stay warm while they waited, when the little girl became sick and began having seizures. Her mother, suffering from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning herself, ran for help. Gruenwald was pronounced dead at Dixie Regional Medical Center.

Investigators have said the mother did nothing criminal or negligent.