A Little Girl Who Kept “Having Trouble Breathing”
On paper, it starts like so many child-death stories do: a 911 call, a panicked report of a toddler who’s not breathing, sirens racing toward a quiet street in a small Michigan town.
On September 3, 2025, first responders were sent to a home on South Allan Street in Cedar Springs, Michigan, for a report of a 2-year-old girl in distress. When they got there, they found 2-year-old Ryleigh Whitehead unresponsive. Despite efforts at the scene, she was pronounced dead.
At first, the official answers were murky. The Kent County Medical Examiner listed Ryleigh’s cause of death as “indeterminate”. There was no single, obvious injury. No blunt-force trauma. No obvious natural condition that could neatly explain why a toddler suddenly died on an ordinary day. The examiner did note that asphyxia could not be ruled out, but the manner of death remained unclear.
Behind the scenes, though, investigators were already uneasy. Ryleigh wasn’t a stranger to doctors or emergency rooms. Over the year before her death, she’d been taken to the hospital multiple times for frightening “breathing episodes” that didn’t seem to match any clear medical diagnosis. As detectives started pulling records, they saw a pattern that didn’t sit right.
And then, as detectives dug through phone data, messages, and online searches, the story took a darker turn.
In late November 2025, after months of investigation, 27-year-old Irene Whitehead, Ryleigh’s mother, sat in an interview room with Kent County detectives. According to investigators, she eventually admitted to placing a bag over her 2-year-old daughter’s mouth for “a couple minutes” and later told them: “I killed her.” When they pressed her on what she meant—on whether she intended her child to die—investigators say she indicated she wanted Ryleigh to die.
Within days, the death certificate was updated to homicide, and prosecutors charged Irene with felony murder and first-degree child abuse in connection with Ryleigh’s death.
But the case didn’t stop with one child. Once the alleged confession was on the record, investigators say Irene also admitted to killing her 2-month-old son, Leo, back in 2021—a baby whose death had been ruled “natural causes” at the time, tied to a rare viral infection. That earlier case is now being re-examined as a potential homicide.
This is the unfolding story of two children, years of unexplained medical crises, red flags that didn’t fully connect in time, and a mother now accused of spending years quietly harming the very children she was supposed to protect.
Who Was Ryleigh?
Public reporting so far focuses heavily on medical records, court documents, and investigative details. We don’t yet have the soft, human details that usually show up in obituaries or family interviews—her favorite cartoon, the way she laughed, what made her feel safe.
What we do know is this:
- Name: Ryleigh Whitehead
- Age: 2 years old at the time of her death
- Home: Lived with her mother in Cedar Springs, Michigan, in Kent County
- Health History: Had multiple emergency visits for reported breathing problems long before the day she died
- Family: She had at least one older sibling and a baby brother, Leo, who died in 2021 as an infant
According to investigators, Ryleigh’s short life involved multiple hospitalizations where doctors tried to figure out why she kept having episodes of “trouble breathing.” At first, everyone treated those episodes as medical emergencies—something happening to her.
Now, authorities say her own mother has admitted that many of those crises were deliberately staged, with Ryleigh being suffocated and then rushed to the hospital as if she were just a very sick child.
Ryleigh didn’t get a chance to grow into her own voice, her own future. Everything about her life is now being filtered through case files, autopsy reports, and statements made by adults—some of whom now stand accused of turning her pain into a performance.
A Family History That Didn’t Add Up
The full picture investigators are working with stretches back several years.
Leo’s Death in 2021
In September 2021, 2-month-old Leo Whitehead died after what was described at the time as repeated breathing issues and a rare variant of a common virus. His death was ruled natural causes, and the story publicly framed him as a medically fragile baby with an unusual infection.
That rare virus diagnosis drew medical interest and local media attention; doctors described Leo’s case as unusual but tragic, not criminal.
For years, that was the end of Leo’s story. There was no criminal investigation. No charges. Just a grieving family and a closed file.
Ryleigh’s Early “Medical Emergencies”
Then came Ryleigh.
According to investigators, emergency responders were called to the family’s home multiple times for Ryleigh having supposed breathing problems. One call in particular stands out:
On October 19, 2023, when Ryleigh was around 4 months old, a firefighter responded to a “trouble breathing” call at a home near Cedar Springs. According to an incident report later obtained via FOIA, that firefighter was so uneasy about what he saw that he flagged his concerns in writing, noting that the situation didn’t fully feel like a straightforward medical crisis.
Doctors and child-abuse specialists were also involved over time. The Kent County Sheriff’s Office has said that specialists from around the country—along with federal partners and a retired Texas detective known for his work in child abuse cases—eventually helped review the pattern of hospital visits and records surrounding Ryleigh.
Despite all of that, Ryleigh remained in the home until September 3, 2025, when the final 911 call came in.
The Digital Trail
The investigation into Ryleigh’s death, and later Leo’s, dug into Irene Whitehead’s Apple account, chats, and online searches.
According to investigators and prosecutors:
- On August 25, 2025—about nine days before Ryleigh died—a video from Irene’s Apple account captured an older sibling saying, “You never even wanted me, just kill me already.” Prosecutors say the voice belongs to a Whitehead child, and authorities consider it a sign of serious emotional distress in the home.
- On September 8, 2025, five days after Ryleigh’s death, a Google search logged on Irene’s account read: “how hard is it to prove if cause of death is suffocation by a bag in toddler”.
- Investigators also say they found online chats in which Irene allegedly admitted to her mother that she only wanted one child and expressed that she wanted her daughter to die.
- Prosecutors and reporters have described a pattern of searches and conversations that revolve around suffocation, proof, and how deaths might be investigated.
These digital traces became a core part of the probable cause that led to Irene’s arrest.
WHAT WE KNOW FROM INVESTIGATORS
Everything below is based on statements from law enforcement, prosecutors, court documents, and public briefings. All of it is being presented as allegations; Irene Whitehead is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Ryleigh’s Death (2025)
- On September 3, 2025, first responders found Ryleigh unresponsive at the family’s South Allan Street home in Cedar Springs. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
- The medical examiner initially ruled the cause of death “indeterminate” but said asphyxia could not be ruled out.
- The Kent County Sheriff’s Office and Michigan Child Protective Services launched a joint investigation, bringing in national child-abuse specialists and federal partners.
- Over the course of months, investigators obtained medical records, digital evidence, and interview statements.
- In a custodial interview on November 25, 2025, after being advised of her Miranda rights, Irene allegedly:
- Admitted to putting a bag over Ryleigh’s mouth for a couple of minutes.
- Said words to the effect of: “I killed her.”
- Indicated, when asked directly about her intent, that she wanted Ryleigh to die.
- Acknowledged that previous hospital trips for breathing issues were not random medical events, but incidents where she had suffocated her daughter and then called for help.
- Told detectives she had thought about killing her children using a gun or a rope and ultimately suffocated Ryleigh with a bag.
- After that alleged confession and a review of records, the medical examiner changed the manner of death to homicide.
Charges in Ryleigh’s Case
- On December 1, 2025, prosecutors charged Irene with:
- Felony murder
- First-degree child abuse
- Both charges are punishable by up to life in prison.
- Irene was arraigned that same day; her bond was set at $5 million and then revoked, meaning she is being held without bond at the Kent County Correctional Facility.
Leo’s Death (2021) – Reopened
- Leo Whitehead was 2 months old when he died in September 2021. His death was ruled natural causes, linked to what doctors described as a rare variant of a common virus.
- After Irene’s alleged confession about Ryleigh, investigators say she also admitted to killing Leo.
- The Kent County Sheriff’s Office is now re-examining Leo’s 2021 death as part of a new, active criminal investigation.
- Authorities say the family moved out of Michigan for a time, possibly to Georgia, and they are asking for tips about any medical care or police contact involving Leo or other children in that period.
“Disturbing” Digital Evidence
Investigators and radio reports have described online searches and chats that focus on:
- Whether suffocation by bag can be proven
- Discussions with a family member about only wanting one child
- Conversations that authorities interpret as evidence of intent and planning
Prior Warning Signs
- A firefighter who responded to an earlier breathing emergency involving infant Ryleigh in October 2023 documented suspicion that something was wrong beyond a typical medical event.
- Child Protective Services and medical staff had been involved around the time of some of the earlier hospitalizations, though the full details of those interventions have not been released publicly.
Again, these are allegations. The defense has not presented a full public response yet, and the case is still moving through the courts.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
Even with all of the public information, there are huge gaps—some that may be answered in court, and some that may never be fully resolved.
Why weren’t Leo’s and Ryleigh’s patterns fully connected sooner?
Leo’s death in 2021 was treated as a tragic but natural outcome of a rare viral infection. Years later, investigators are now treating it as a potential homicide after an alleged confession.
Ryleigh’s repeated breathing issues, plus the 2023 firefighter’s concerns, suggest there were warning signs before 2025. How these pieces were handled—in real time, across agencies—is an open and painful question for many in the community.
What exactly happened on the day Ryleigh died?
The public record includes the alleged statement about a bag being placed over Ryleigh’s mouth, but not every second of that day has been detailed.
We don’t yet have a minute-by-minute account of who was home, how long Ryleigh was in distress, or how quickly 911 was called.
What was life like inside the home, day in and day out?
We know an older child was reportedly recorded saying, “You never even wanted me, just kill me already.” That suggests a deeply distressed environment.
We don’t have full details about other caregivers, extended family involvement, or any prior CPS case plans or safety checks.
What were the medical professionals seeing and reporting?
Doctors clearly treated the children multiple times. Some specialists and child-abuse experts later assisted the sheriff’s office in analyzing patterns.
It’s not yet clear how many times concerns were formally reported and what responses followed.
How will Leo’s case be reclassified, if at all?
His death certificate currently lists natural causes, but that could change if the investigation and any future charges support a new finding.
What will the defense argue?
As of now, we have only the prosecution’s framing of Irene’s alleged statements.
The defense may challenge the context of the interview, the interpretation of the digital evidence, or the meaning of her statements. None of that has fully played out in open court yet.
Where are the surviving children now—and how are they being supported?
Authorities have said the welfare of siblings is being safeguarded by child protective services, but details are sealed to protect the children’s privacy.
KEY INDIVIDUALS & RELATIONSHIPS
(Only roles and facts that have been reported publicly.)
- Ryleigh Whitehead – Victim – 2-year-old daughter whose death on Sept. 3, 2025, was first ruled “indeterminate” and later reclassified as homicide after her mother’s alleged confession.
- Leo Whitehead – Victim – 2-month-old son who died in September 2021. His death was originally ruled natural causes linked to a rare virus. His case is now being re-investigated after his mother allegedly admitted to killing him.
- Irene Whitehead – Accused – 27-year-old mother of Ryleigh and Leo, from Cedar Springs, Michigan. Charged with felony murder and first-degree child abuse in Ryleigh’s death. Authorities say she admitted to suffocating Ryleigh and later to killing Leo as well. She is being held without bond.
- Older Whitehead Child (Name Withheld) – Sibling – Older sibling of Ryleigh whose voice investigators say appears in an August 25, 2025, video saying, “You never even wanted me just kill me already.” This child’s wellbeing is being managed under child-protection protocols.
- Maternal Grandmother (Name Withheld) – Family – Reportedly received chats from Irene in which Irene allegedly said she only wanted one child and voiced that she wanted her daughter to die. These alleged conversations are part of the digital evidence investigators have cited.
- Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young – Law Enforcement – Sheriff of Kent County, Michigan, who has publicly discussed the case and the reopening of Leo’s death investigation. She has asked the public, including people in Michigan and possibly Georgia, to come forward with any information about past medical or police interactions involving the children.
- Kent County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Unit – Law Enforcement – Lead investigative body for both children’s cases. Responsible for search warrants, interviews, and evidence collection.
- Michigan Child Protective Services – Child Welfare Agency – Partnered with the sheriff’s office during the investigation into Ryleigh’s death and is involved in protecting surviving children.
- Kent County Medical Examiner – Forensic Official – Conducted the autopsy on Ryleigh, initially ruled the cause of death indeterminate with asphyxia not ruled out, then later changed the manner of death to homicide after additional evidence surfaced.
- Kent County Prosecutor’s Office – Prosecution – Reviewed investigative findings and authorized felony murder and first-degree child abuse charges against Irene in Ryleigh’s death.
- Retired Detective Mike Weber (Tarrant County, Texas Sheriff’s Office) – Child-Abuse Specialist – Brought in as a specialist to assist in reviewing the case and patterns of suspected abuse. Known for his expertise in complex child-abuse investigations.
- Unidentified Firefighter – First Responder – Responded to a 2023 “trouble breathing” call involving infant Ryleigh and later documented in an incident report that he was suspicious about what he observed at the scene.
- Hospital Physicians and Pediatric Specialists (Names Withheld) – Medical Professionals – Treated both Leo and Ryleigh during multiple hospitalizations for breathing issues and viral infection. Some of their records and assessments have been reviewed by investigators and child-abuse specialists.