FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- A six-month-old baby is dead after falling into a fire pit and burning to death.

Police spokeswoman Cathy Schrock said the father told investigators that he fell asleep in the backyard with the boy Saturday night, and when he woke up the child was missing.

He said he went inside to ask his wife if she had the baby, and when they returned to the yard they found the boy covered with burns in the fire pit at the house in the 2600 block of SW 333rd Place.

Neighbors rushed over when they heard screams, but it was too late to save the boy.

Neighbor Levi Thomas said the baby's name was Diego.

"He was your typical six-month-old, all smiles and coos, vibrant and young, waiting for a chance to grow," he said.

Detectives questioned the child's parents and neighbors, and officials said the father could face charges.