The death of a baby whose neck was broken during delivery at a Georgia hospital is being ruled a homicide.

(CNN) — A medical examiner on Tuesday released the manner of death of a baby whose mother accused a Georgia hospital and others of beheading her during childbirth, calling it a homicide.

The Clayton County, Georgia, medical examiner’s office said the child died of a broken neck and head separation, according to a news release shared with CNN.

Jessica Ross, a 20-year-old woman, filed a lawsuit in August alleging that Southern Regional Medical Center tried to cover up the manner of death of her and boyfriend Trayvon Isaiah Taylor Jr.’s child. With the entire family Mr.

The medical examiner’s office said Ross’ baby died of “complete transection, fracture-dislocation of the upper cervical spine (C1-C2) and vertebrae,” due to “shoulder dystocia, labor arrest, and fetal entrapment in the canal.” childbirth,” according to a press release.

The medical examiner said pregnancy-induced diabetes and premature rupture of membranes were also important conditions that contributed to Taylor’s death.

The medical center is in Riverdale, about 20 miles south of downtown Atlanta. The baby, named after his father, was born after a nine-month gestation, the family’s lawyer said.

Ross gave birth on July 9 and her doctor tried to deliver the baby using various methods, including “applying traction on the baby’s head”.

During the delivery attempt, “the baby was unable to descend properly due to shoulder dystocia,” a condition in which the baby’s shoulders become trapped in the vaginal canal, the suit says.

Ross says the doctor “rudely” and “negligently” applied excessive traction to her baby’s head and neck, the complaint says. According to the lawsuit, the doctor is also accused of failing to perform a “timely and proper” cesarean section, which resulted in the baby’s severed head and death. According to the document, the C-section was completed around 3 am on July 10.

In a statement issued to CNN after the medical examiner’s announcement, a spokesperson for Southern Regional Medical Center said, “Due to the ongoing litigation, we are unable to comment.”

In August, after Ross filed suit, the hospital said in a statement that it “denies the allegations in the complaint that refer to the hospital.”

A family spokesperson said that when Ross and Taylor “demanded to see and hold their baby, hospital staff told them they were not allowed to touch or hold their son.”

“Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with the family and everyone affected by this tragic event,” the medical center said in a statement. Our prayers are also with the dedicated team of doctors, nurses and staff at Southern Regional Medical Center. the patient Our commitment is to provide compassionate, quality care to every patient and this loss is heartbreaking.”

A family spokesman said the workers only allowed the couple to see the body of their dead son.

“During this visit, her child was wrapped tightly in a blanket with his head resting on her body in such a way that anyone who saw him could not recognize that he had been beheaded,” the statement said.

“I had never seen anything like this before. No one in our office has seen anything like this. Everyone we’ve consulted has never seen a situation like this before,” Clayton County Department of Medical Examiner Director Brian Byers told CNN on Tuesday. “I find it very unusual that the hospital contacted our office because of the amount of trauma involved in this incident. Didn’t.”

The case is still under investigation by the Clayton County Police Department and may be referred to the District Attorney’s office, according to the release.

Ross and her boyfriend are expected to hold a public press conference this Wednesday in Atlanta at 11 a.m. ET.

— CNN’s Nick Valencia also contributed to this report.