MOUNT VERNON — A 25-year-old uncle of a 2-year-old girl was arrested Monday after an autopsy revealed that the toddler suffered internal injuries before she died early Sunday, according to the Mount Vernon police.

Initially, the girl appeared to have died from flu-like symptoms. However, a Monday night autopsy revealed head trauma and damage to the child’s internal organs, police said. While Skagit Couunty Deputy Coroner Bob Clark has not yet officially ruled the death a homicide, police have taken the uncle into custody for investigation of murder.

Clark is waiting for lab test results before declaring a cause of death.

Just before 1 a.m. Sunday, the uncle called 911 and reported that 2-year-old Sania Amarie Dupree was not breathing. Police say she was taken to the Skagit Valley Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Sania, who was born in Texas, was living in Mount Vernon with her aunt and uncle while her mother was deployed in Korea with the military, Clark said.

The uncle, who police believe is also in the military, had been alone in his East Broadway home with Sania and her sibling before authorities were called Sunday, police said. Other details were not immediately available.

• Tahlia Ganser can be reached at 360-416-2148 or at .