Cause of Death Revealed for 3-Year-Old Who Got Trapped in Playset and Was Found ‘Wedged in Wooden Play Oven’

Authorities have determined a cause of death for Briella Holmes after the 3-year-old died on July 23 when she became trapped in a kitchen playset.

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A cause of death has been determined for Briella Holmes, who died last month after becoming stuck in a kitchen playset

The 3-year-old girl and her sibling had been at a babysitter’s house at the time, police said in a previous statement

When reached by PEOPLE on Thursday, Aug. 20, police had no update to share but confirmed that their investigation remains ongoing

A cause of death has been determined for a 3-year-old one month after she became trapped in a playset while at a babysitter’s home.

Briella Holmes died of probable positional asphyxia after she was reportedly “discovered wedged in a wooden play oven,” according to a Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s report obtained by PEOPLE.

According to the National Library of Medicine, “positional asphyxia is a rare but potentially fatal condition where an individual’s body assumes a position interfering with normal respiratory movements and leading to asphyxiation.”

Her death was ruled accidental.

The 3-year-old girl and her sibling had been at a babysitter’s house in the Meadows of Boynton Beach community when she became trapped in a toy kitchen set on July 23, police said in a statement at the time.

When officers arrived at the scene they located the child and “immediately began life-saving measures,” but the child was pronounced dead four days later.

At the time, police said their preliminary investigation found that at some point on July 23, their babysitter left, leaving the children in their spouses’ care. According to an report from the medical examiner, the babysitter left to go to the store.

Authorities did not specify how long the babysitter, who has not been identified publicly, was away.

“During this time, the spouse remained upstairs as the children played downstairs, periodically checking on the children and giving them snacks,” the Boynton Beach Police Department said in a statement previously shared with PEOPLE.

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During one of these checks, the spouse found the 3-year-old child stuck in the playset.

“The spouse removed the child and immediately began performing life-saving measures until first responders arrived,” police wrote, adding that the toddler’s sibling said the pair had been attempting to retrieve some fallen toys.

Boynton Beach Fire Rescue arrived on the scene and took the 3-year-old girl to St. Mary’s Medical Center, where she was later pronounced brain dead, the Sun Sentinel reported.

When reached by PEOPLE for comment on Thursday, Aug. 20, police said they had no updates to share but that the investigation remains ongoing.

PEOPLE could not immediately reach Holmes’ parents, but her mother previously declined to comment when reached by the Sun Sentinel earlier this month.

Boynton Beach Police Department

Earlier this month, the Boynton Beach Police Department released details about the playset, noting that it had “no identifying markings indicating its brand, make, or model.”

They said that the specific set involved in the child’s death had been purchased on Facebook Marketplace, but that a similar “Country Living Kitchen” replica set could be found online, where it was being sold for for about $100.

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In a GoFundMe established after Holmes’ death, family remembered her as “a bright light in the lives of so many.”

“She had a kind heart, a beautiful spirit, and a smile that could light up any room,” they shared. “She touched countless lives with her love, laughter, and compassion, and the impact she made will never be forgotten.”

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