Maddy Middleton cause of death released

Thursday the Santa Cruz County Coroner released the cause of death after an autopsy had been completed.

Investigators say Middleton died from asphyxiation and stab wounds to the neck. The Sheriff’s Office said the young girl was not strangled but the cause of death is known as positional asphyxiation due to the way her body was placed in the dumpster.

The Sheriff’s Office says the Coroner has officially ruled the 8-year-old’s death as a homicide.

Middleton was reported missing Sunday July 26th. After a 24 hour search, Santa Cruz Police detectives found her body in a dumpster Monday night, July 27th, in the Tannery Arts apartment complex where she lived with her mom. Police arrested Maddy’s 15-year-old neighbor for her murder. Adrian Gonzalez will be back in court in September to enter a plea.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held at the Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz on August 23rd.