Medical examiners have determined that a Killeen woman found dead along with her 5-week-old baby in February passed away as a result of a rare heart condition.

35-year-old Holy Newkirk was discovered in her home in the 2400 block of Lavender Lane on February 24. She was lying atop her infant daughter, who suffocated under the weight of her mother.

KWTX reports that Newkirk suffered heart failure as a result of postpartum cardiomyopathy, which causes the heart muscle to become weakened and the heart to become enlarged.

KWTX cites the American Heart Association, which reports that 1,000 to 1,300 women in the U.S. are affected by PPCM annually. It typically occurs during pregnancy or immediately after delivery.


While it's absolutely heartbreaking to share news like this, the hope is that more people may become aware of PPCM and its symptoms.

Detailed information is available at Heart.org's PPCM webpage.

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