Seven-year-old Ngone Talla was found unresponsive in her wheelchair when her school bus arrived at her family's Northside home Wednesday, Sept. 16. She was pronounced dead at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

Ngone was a second grader at Roselawn Condon School in Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS). She was nonverbal, used a wheelchair and had cerebral palsy, according to the Hamilton County Coroner's Office. Her father, Abdoula Talla, told WCPO his daughter was healthy and happy when she left for school that morning.

"I just want to know the truth," Abdoula Talla said. "She's a lovely baby, and I just want to know the truth."

Cincinnati police confirmed officers responded to the 4200 block of Colerain Avenue around 5:30 p.m. Sept. 16 and opened a death investigation. No criminal charges have been announced.

What the family described

The family told Local 12 the bus arrived about a half hour late. Surveillance video from the home showed the bus sitting outside for 10 to 15 minutes without the wheelchair ramp being lowered, according to WCPO's reporting.

Four people were aboard when the bus arrived: the driver, a substitute attendant, Ngone and one other child, the family told Local 12. Abdoula Talla said the attendant working that day was not the person who normally rode Ngone's bus.

Ngone's 12-year-old sister, Marema Talla, boarded the bus with their mother and found Ngone motionless. Marema told WCPO her sister's lips were dry, cut and bleeding. She said the attendant told her something had been coming from Ngone's mouth before she became still.

Ngone's teacher had texted her father earlier in the day, according to Local 12. The teacher said Ngone had thrown up and needed two diaper changes but was otherwise "super silly and full of giggles."

Coroner and investigation

The Hamilton County Coroner's Office said Ngone had no traumatic injuries. Coroner Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco told Fox 19 the death appears to be natural, though the office is still investigating. Fox 19 reported, citing unnamed sources, that Ngone may have gotten stuck in a seatbelt on the bus. That detail has not been confirmed by the coroner or police.

Investigators have not said when Ngone suffered a medical emergency, whether earlier intervention could have changed the outcome, or whether anyone aboard the bus knew she was in distress before arriving at the family's home.

District and bus company response

The bus was operated by First Student, a private company contracted by CPS. First Student said in a statement it is cooperating with authorities and the school district but declined to provide details because the investigation is active.

CPS said in a statement that its Crisis Response Unit is at Roselawn Condon School supporting students and staff. A district spokesperson declined to answer questions about the death when reached by the Cincinnati Enquirer on Thursday, Sept. 17. First Student operates buses across the district, including east-side routes serving Hyde Park, Oakley and Mount Lookout families.

Abdoula Talla told Cleveland.com the driver and attendant are supposed to watch the children carefully. He said he is waiting for the investigation to provide answers.