Police investigating death of toddler found in tent behind Richland home
Richland police are investigating the death of a toddler found dead Tuesday in a backyard.
Police were called to a house on the 2300 block of Camden Street, just east of the Highway 240 bypass, just after 10 a.m., according to emergency dispatch reports.
Dispatchers told medics that they were providing CPR instructions to a caller for a 1-year-old child.
When officers arrived they found the toddler’s body in the backyard in a tent, according to dispatch traffic.
Benton County Coroner Bill Leach confirmed to the Herald that the child was under 2 years old, and an autopsy was performed Wednesday, but could not release any other information due to the ongoing investigation.
Richland police have released no information about the death as of noon Thursday and could not be reached by the Herald on Thursday morning.
Officers at the scene initially reported that the child had bruises on its face and was “obviously deceased,” later noting the toddler appeared to have been dead for some time.
Officers told dispatchers the child’s mother had been staying in the tent in the backyard, and described it as a crime scene.
A man connected to the home was reportedly seen leaving the area as officers were arriving. He was later taken into custody as he was walking down Wright Avenue.
He allegedly left soon before the mother found the child’s body. She told officers she did not know what happened, according to conversations with emergency dispatchers.
This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 12:47 PM.
