Autopsy: Toddler died of dehydration

A 17-month-old Wake Forest boy died in March of dehydration, according to an autopsy report released Friday.

Marcus Isaiah Willis was found dead in his crib on March 20. His mother told police that the child was put down for a nap at 2 p.m., and he was found unresponsive four hours later.

Officers seized the crib mattress and mattress cover as part of the investigation into the child's death, according to a search warrant.

The medical examiner determined the child had been left unattended in a heated room for seven hours, according to the autopsy report. Investigators who recreated the scenario found the temperature in the room would have been 97 degrees, the report states.

There was no immediate word from Wake Forest police regarding the status of their investigation.