Months After Toddler’s Death, Investigation Remains Open

The April death of a 3-year-old boy in Falls Township remains an open investigation.

The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office confirmed this week that the April 8 death of Reise Patel, who was struck by a vehicle in the driveway of a home off Lincoln Highway near Route 1 in the Morrisville section of Falls Township, remains open.

The boy was taken by a family member to Jefferson Bucks Hospital where he was pronounced dead of a skull fracture, authorities said at the time.

Reise and his twin sibling, who was not hurt, were under the custody of Bucks County Children and Youth and with a foster family at the time of the boy’s death, sources with knowledge on the incident told LevittownNow.com in spring.

In late summer, sources confirmed the investigation had focused on the fact the vehicle that hit the boy may have been driven by a family member who struck the boy by mistake.

Bucks County Children and Youth confirmed that the child was receiving their services to Reise at the time of his death.

Under Pennsylvania Act 33 of 2008, officials must conduct a review and create a report when a undetermined death of a child is reported, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

Larry King, the county spokesman, said the mandated report would be released to the public at some time, but not presently because the district attorney’s office is involved.