JSO: No foul play in 7-year-old's death

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — His bright smile is now gone forever, but exactly how 7-year-old Brailand McCray died in his Downtown Jacksonville home this holiday weekend is a mystery.

"It's just sad.  You don't know really what happened because you weren't there to see what was going on," said neighbor, Michele Smith.

Investigators are now trying to sort out exactly what happened in the Centennial Town Home West complex Saturday evening.

Neighbors like Tailia Parkison say the boy's family members described his death as an accident.

"He explained to me that his nephew was playing in the closet with a toy snake and must've fell off a bucket or something and strangled himself," said Parkinson.

Whatever happened to the little boy is now being investigated by the medical examiner, the Department of Children and Families and police homicide investigators.

Police on Tuesday afternoon said investigators do not suspect foul play in Brailand's death.

A spokesman for DCF said the agency is investigating whether there's any abuse or neglect involved in the case.  John Harrell with DCF said it's not a statement of guilt, it's merely an investigation.  Harrell said investigators need to talk with family members first.  There's no timetable on how long the investigation will take, Harrell said.

WJAX