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Detectives release name of 2-year-old found dead in Indian Trail home

Officials say the young boy was staying with his father for the weekend; his mother was coming to pick the child up and found him unresponsive.

INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. — Officials are investigating in Indian Trail after a child died in the 5900 block of Senconee Drive.

The boy's father was charged with murder, according to the Union County Sheriff's Office. Alden John Whitehead, 30, was also charged with child abuse inflicting serious injury.

Preliminary autopsy results revealed Louis-Charles Gilbert Chenier died from blunt force trauma. 

Detectives said the young boy would have turned three next month. 

Deputies dispatched at 12:42 p.m. -- the call was initially for cardiac arrest, but the death is still under investigation.

The boy was staying with his father for the weekend, officials say. His mother was coming to pick the child up and found him unresponsive. 

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Union County Sheriff's spokesman Tony Underwood, detectives spent all day at the house looking for clues as to how that boy died.

"We don't know the manner of death," Underwood said. "There's no obvious cause of death."

As the boy's body was taken to the Medical Examiner's Office, his father, 30-year-old Alden Whitehead, was taken to jail for unrelated criminal charges.

Underwood says Whitehead had outstanding warrants for misdemeanor failure to appear.

"It's just very tragic at this point," Underwood said.

Deputies expect the Medical Examiner will determine an initial cause of death Monday. Until then, they can't say whether this was foul play or a tragic accident. 

Stick with WCNC for the latest on this developing story. 

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