Police are investigating the death of a 5-year-old Waianae girl who ingested methadone - a drug commonly used for relief of chronic pain and to treat heroin addiction.

Victoria Sanchez died Oct. 29 after being found unresponsive in her home.

On Monday, the city Medical Examiner's Office revealed that the girl died from toxic effects of methadone, which is used for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence, particularly with heroin.

The manner of death, whether it is a homicide, is undetermined. But the medical examiner's office cited “;parental ignorance and neglect”; as a factor.

Taken orally, methadone suppresses narcotic withdrawal, and is effective only in cases of addiction to heroin, morphine and other opioid drugs.

The girl's 53-year-old father was brought in for questioning but has not been arrested, police said. The case is considered an unattended death.

The father has 15 previous convictions, including four felonies. None of the convictions involved illegal drugs. In 1996, he was found guilty on three counts of family abuse as a misdemeanor, violating a temporary restraining order, second-degree theft and harassment. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

Police took custody of the girl's three brothers, ages 13, 9 and 7, and placed them under the care of state Child Welfare Services under the Department of Human Services, said department spokeswoman Toni Schwartz.

The boys remain in foster care with their maternal grandmother.