A 12-year-old girl is dead in Michigan, and authorities are still working to determine what killed her after initial reports that she 'ran face first into a tree' have been called into question by autopsy findings.
Olivia Smith was found near a friend's house in Kawkawlin Township on the night of July 6 around 9:20 p.m., according to Bay County Sheriff Troy Cunningham. A 911 call came in reporting that she had struck a tree, and when paramedics arrived, CPR was conducted before she was transported to a local hospital, where she later died.
Background
Olivia's family has publicly stated she was born with a heart defect, though authorities have not confirmed whether that played a role in her death. Ring camera footage obtained by investigators shows Olivia stepping off a staircase and walking toward some trees before she was found.
"From the autopsy, there's a question right now of whether there was a heart issue and if she didn't stumble...and coincidentally hit a tree," Cunningham told Law&Crime. "Because one girl said [Olivia] kind of stumbled before she fell down."
The Investigation
Sheriff's officials say there were no signs of blunt force injuries to the outside of Olivia's body when she was examined.
"There was no indication that she hit a tree if you looked at her," a BCSO official said. "I was at the autopsy. Outwardly, you couldn't tell if she hit a tree or didn't hit a tree."
Doctors and pathologists who conducted Olivia's autopsy have told police that it doesn't appear she ran into a tree in the manner originally reported in the 911 call. According to investigators, the autopsy has shown that striking the tree "wasn't enough to have caused" her death.
"Everything's still under investigation," Cunningham said. "Our biggest thing right now is just waiting for the toxicology to come back."
Speculation and rumors have swirled online about whether Olivia was being chased by other children in the trailer park with whom she allegedly had issues. Police have been interviewing minors who were present that night.
"There are rumors we've heard a little bit, and some of the people we've talked to have said that Olivia and another girl did have issues with each other and were talking about fighting or something like that," Cunningham said, noting claims that "one girl wanted to fight Olivia" earlier in the day and was allegedly chasing her.
However, authorities say they have found no evidence supporting those rumors so far.
"From the people we've talked to and the videos we've seen, there's no evidence at this point that she was actually being chased," Cunningham said. "We've heard that on social media and stuff, but the people that we've interviewed who were out there on scene do not have any evidence of anyone actually chasing her."
A video reviewed by police shows several children running in the trailer park the night Olivia died, with some allegedly discussing what to say about the incident.
"We heard...the surveillance video where the girls are saying, 'If anybody says anything, say we weren't chasing her, we were just going to check on her,'" Cunningham said. "But the kids that were there and the people we've interviewed at this point, we have not had anybody tell us Olivia was being chased."
Key Takeaways
- Olivia Smith, 12, died July 6 after being found near a friend's house in Kawkawlin Township around 9:20 p.m.
- Initial reports claimed she 'ran face first into a tree,' but autopsy findings suggest the impact may not have caused her death.
- No external signs of blunt force trauma were visible on Olivia's body, per investigators.
- Family says Olivia was born with a heart defect; toxicology results are still pending.
- Social media rumors about a possible chase by other children remain unconfirmed by police evidence.
What's Next
Olivia's autopsy results and toxicology report are expected to be released in the coming days or weeks, according to authorities. The Bay County Medical Examiner's Office did not respond to requests for comment. Sheriff Cunningham said investigators will continue gathering information before making any conclusions about what caused Olivia's death.
"What can be proven, we hold on to, and what's just rumor, we let go," Cunningham said.