The death of a 2-year-old girl in a Manhattan homeless shelter last year has been ruled a homicide — after an autopsy confirmed she ingested methadone, authorities said Friday.
The tot, identified by cops as Mariya Huebler, was found unconscious and unresponsive just before 11:45 p.m. June 7, 2021, at the shelter, at 30 Hamilton Place in Hamilton Heights, cops said.
Mariya was taken to Mount Sinai Saint Luke’s Hospital, where she was declared dead.
At the time, there were no obvious signs of trauma, authorities said.
But police confirmed Friday morning that the case was ruled a homicide — with a report from the city Medical Examiner’s Office indicating she consumed methadone.
No one is in custody and the investigation was ongoing Friday morning, cops said.
“The meaning of Mariya means loved by many or beloved just like the meaning of my name Jedidah,” the little girl’s mom posted on a GoFundMe page last year. “She literally was loved by many and touched so many people in such a short time she’s been on this earth. It just speak to the character and awareness my daughter had at such a young age.”
“This tragedy has not only just effected [sic] me but many others,” she wrote. “Mariya was loved so deeply, it hurts to acknowledge that she is physically not with us no more. Anyone who knew me knew how much I loved my daughter, how much of a hands on mother I was to Mariya. I still cannot believe this is real.”