Baby Girl, Found With Father’s Body, Will Leave Hospital Soon

Rebecca Neary, the 18-month-old girl who was found Sunday night in a locked apartment with her father’s body, remained in stable condition at an Orange County hospital Tuesday.

She will be released soon to an aunt, Buena Park police said.

A spokeswoman at Childrens Hospital of Orange County, where Rebecca was taken for treatment after being found in the apartment, said Tuesday that the child “is in good and stable condition and is ready to be released to the care of a relative.”

Buena Park Police Sgt. Terry Branum said a preliminary court hearing on Tuesday gave temporary custody of Rebecca to an aunt, Linda McCrory of Northridge. Branum said a subsequent court hearing will be held on permanent custody.

Rebecca’s mother, Sandra Neary, 32, was kidnaped from Costa Mesa on Oct. 11, and her body was found in Riverside County on Oct. 24. The case remains unsolved.

The child’s father, Stephen Neary, 32, died several days ago of an apparent drug overdose. He was last seen alive Dec. 24, Branum said.

A brother, Patrick Neary of Del Mar, became worried because he had not heard from Stephen and went to his apartment on 8th Street in Buena Park on Sunday night, Branum said. The Christmas tree and other lights were on, but there were no visible signs of life so Patrick Neary broke a window and entered, he said.

Inside, the little girl was found clinging to a blanket by a bed. She was suffering from shock, dehydration and lack of food, Branum said. Her father was found dead in the bathroom; lying nearby were a hypodermic syringe and an empty drug vial.

Branum said an autopsy by the Orange County coroner’s office was inconclusive about the cause of Stephen Neary’s death and toxicological tests are now being conducted. Those tests require at least a week and often longer, Branum noted. In the meantime, police are still uncertain whether the father’s death was an accident or suicide.

Rebecca had apparently stayed in the apartment alone from the time of her father’s death until she was found, without any food or water, Branum said. “It was for at least three days and maybe four,” he said Tuesday.

The child, however, responded quickly to hospital care, and Laura Johnson, a spokeswoman at Childrens Hospital, said Tuesday afternoon that Rebecca was in good health and ready to be released.