5-Year-Old Sacramento Girl's Hanging Death Under Investigation

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A 5-year-old child was found hanging in her home, and Sacramento homicide detectives are trying to figure out if it was a bizarre accident, or something more.

Moang Saelee was almost inconsolable after her 5-year-old granddaughter Krista Nichols died in her living room on Sunday.

Saelee says it was all a freak accident, but admits she wasn't home when it happened.

She says somehow Krista attached some kind of rope to a hook meant for potted plants on her living room ceiling, then Krista hanged herself.

Saelee doesn't believe her granddaughter meant to do it, and said nobody was watching the girl at the time.

"We don't know how," she said. "I'm not home, it's just my daughter home and her auntie home, but her auntie in the bathroom and talk on the phone."

Sacramento Police say homicide detectives have to make sure this really was a bizarre accident, and are also investigating if Krista was properly being cared for.

A neighbor who didn't want to be identified says the children were often seen alone.

"We had some concerns, especially through the summertime, the kids were out unsupervised often," the neighbor said. "A couple of months ago, the same girl supposedly went missing, the police were out and then they found her under the bed later."

CBS13 contacted Child Protective Services to inquire about any history at the home, but no one returned our calls.