Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Eight-year-old girl's death on New Year's Eve under investigation in Camden County

Authorities are investigating an 8-year-old girl's death on New Year's Eve in Stratford, Camden County. A sibling of Sailor Lane Righter called 911 about 1:50 p.m. from their home along Union Avenue in Stratford, saying his "baby sister" was unresponsive.

Sailor Lane Righter.
Sailor Lane Righter.Read moreCourtesy of Eugene J. Zale Funeral Home

Authorities are investigating an 8-year-old girl's death on New Year's Eve in Stratford, Camden County.

A sibling of Sailor Lane Righter called 911 about 1:50 p.m. from their home along Union Avenue in Stratford, saying his "baby sister" was unresponsive.

"We need help now," he told a dispatcher, according to a recording of the call provided by Camden County officials. The sibling did not give the dispatcher his name.

"My mom just went upstairs and found her, and she told me to call 911," he said. "She's not breathing."

What caused Sailor's death was not revealed in the call, and the Camden County Prosecutor's Office declined to release the cause Wednesday.

The prosecutor's office is leading the investigation and said no one has been charged.

A short statement from the office said an 8-year-old girl was taken to Kennedy Hospital in Stratford, where she was pronounced dead at 2:15 p.m. An obituary and neighbors identified the girl as Sailor Righter.

The prosecutor's office said: "Only family members were present at the time of the incident, ruling out the involvement of unknown individuals."

Sailor is the daughter of a Stratford police officer, Kenneth Righter. In addition to his duties as a patrolman, Righter has been an assistant firearms instructor and a warrant service officer, according to an annual report from the department.

Righter declined to comment at his home Wednesday, and the department did not return a call.

Sailor participated in Sterling Lady Knights Cheerleading, a recreational squad, and was on its "Mini Majesty" team, according to the group's Facebook page.

An obituary from Eugene J. Zale Funeral Home in Stratford called Sailor "a beautiful little girl with an infectious smile."

"She adored cheerleading and playing softball," the obituary said. "She will be forever missed by her family."

On the street where Sailor lived, neighbors who knew her spoke of her highly.

John McKeown, 71, who lives across the street from the family, said Sailor waved to him as she walked to a school bus in the mornings. He said he was devastated by her death.

"She was very pleasant," McKeown said. "She wouldn't have hurt a flea."

In an online guest book, condolences poured in for Sailor's family.

"There are no words that will take away your pain but please know you have the love and support of so many," wrote a woman who identified herself as Maria Adolf from Stratford. "I will keep your family in my prayers."

mboren@phillynews.com

856-779-3829

@borenmc