CARVER, Mass. -- The mother of a 3-year-old Carver boy has been arrested and charged with his murder.

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Jorge Quiroga Reports On Arrest

NewsCenter 5's Jorge Quiroga reported that police were called to the home Tuesday to find Justin Kirk not breathing. He was pronounced dead a short time later at a nearby hospital.

"Justin's aunt heard choking noises coming from Justin's room. She got up, saw the light was on in his room and assumed that his mother was with him," said Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

Justin lived with his mother, sister and aunt in Carver.

Police allege the boy's mother, Helen Kirk, strangled the boy in his sleep.

"There was a brief conversation between the two women and Justin's aunt went to Justin's room and she found him laying in bed. He was not breathing," said Cruz.

Police received a call for help from a person saying someone was not feeling right at the home, but the caller did not want an ambulance. In a second call, the person said the boy was not breathing.

"The Carver police entered the home and found the child, Justin T. Kirk, in the back bedroom with his maternal aunt. Justin was lying face up on the bedroom floor, and he was not breathing. Witnesses had indicated that they observed bruising on Justin's neck. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful," said Cruz.

Justin was pronounced dead at Jordan Hospital a short time later.

Justin's sister is now in their father's custody.

"The cause of death of this little boy is asphyxiation due to neck compression and the manner of death is homicide," said Cruz, who did not comment on a possible motive.

Helen Kirk was arrested Thursday at a Belmont, Mass., hospital. She will be arraigned on murder charges in Wareham District Court Friday.