Mother found dead along with infant son died of natural causes, not drugs, autopsy concludes
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Authorities say a woman found dead along with her infant son in a western Pennsylvania apartment died of pneumonia rather than a drug overdose.
The Allegheny County medical examiner's office said an autopsy concluded that 22-year-old Sara Kessler succumbed to bronchial pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection of the heart in her Millvale apartment in March. Her death was ruled due to natural causes.
Officials said her 9-month-old son, Carey, with no one to care for him, died of dehydration. His death was ruled accidental.
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Police said originally that they suspected an overdose, but the medical examiner's office said drugs played no role in her death.
Her brother Matthew Knaus tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the loss has been eased by learning that his sister wasn't responsible for their deaths.