4-month-old infant dies, cause unknown

A 4-month-old infant living in the Desert Cedars neighborhood died Monday in his sleep, and the family said the cause of the death is still unknown.

Aaron Masterson, the baby of Maricopa residents Corey and Veronica Masterson, was the youngest of seven children.

“He always smiled,” Veronica Masterson said, noting he was the only one of her children to have blue eyes. “He loved being outside and going out on the back porch. He would just be so happy looking at the birds, feeling the wind or the sun.”

The Pima County medical examiner’s office has not yet determined the cause of death. Maricopa Fire Department spokesman Jon Sheaffer said firefighters responded to a call Monday concerning a 4-month-old infant, but he could not give details about the call.

Masterson said Aaron was perfectly healthy, and it’s hard to understand why her son died without apparent reason.

“We have no clue why,” she said. “That’s the hardest part.”

Masterson said she really appreciates the support of the community during the difficult time. People from her church have been bringing meals to her home, which has been extremely helpful, she said.

Aaron was born May 12 on Mother’s Day.

“I hate to say that day will be tainted forever, but it’s sort of a hard thing to have a son born on Mother’s Day and then have him taken away,” she said.

A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chandler, 800 W. Chandler Heights Road. The Mastersons are asking the community for donations to help cover the cost of the funeral. Anyone can contact Veronica Masterson at [email protected].

Family and friends can share memories or send condolences through the guest book provided by Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery.