Child's Death Accidental

Brenda Slater can't believe her five year old niece is dead.

"She was found right here," says Slater who pointed to a spot behind a home on Leggett Avenue where Zoria Mauldin's body was found Wednesday night. "They say she was laying here on her face," she says.

Prichard police launched an investigation into the death after they realized the little girl did not die of natural causes, but today police said they believe the death was an accident.

Zoria's family says the little girl may have been reaching for a ball under a shed when a nail hanging from the shed punctured an artery her neck.

A spokesperson for the police department couldn't confirm the details of the story, but Zoria's mom says police took the nail as evidence.

Investigators will send the case to the Mobile County District Attorney to review.