LEWISTON – The father of an 8-month-old Auburn girl who died under suspicious circumstances Saturday will be allowed to visit his deceased daughter at a memorial service.

Michael Cole, 26, is serving time at the Androscoggin County Jail on charges that he assaulted the girl’s mother. But jail officials said after talking to the family of 8-month-old Emmy-Leigh Cole, a solution was worked out so that Michael Cole can say goodbye to his daughter.

“He’ll be given the opportunity to grieve and pay his respects,” said jail Capt. John Lebel. “We’ve granted permission for him to go to the funeral home for a half-hour by himself. We can’t allow him to be there with the mother because she has a protection order against him.”

Emmy-Leigh’s family plans to honor the girl at a private service, according to a funeral notice. Lebel did not discuss when or where Michael Cole would pay his final respects, citing security concerns.

Cole will be escorted by jail guards when he visits the funeral home, Lebel said. Afterwards, he will be returned to jail to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Investigators continue to seek answers involving Emmy-Leigh, who died after she was hospitalized for injuries, police said. No charges have been filed.

An autopsy has been completed, but the cause and manner of death have been withheld by authorities pending further investigation, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

“Everyone involved has been cooperative,” McCausland said.

That includes Todd Gamache, 23, of Auburn, who was apparently with the child at the 113 Broad St. home when she was rushed to the hospital. He is the boyfriend of Libby St. Pierre, the baby’s mother, who also lived at the Auburn home.

McCausland said Maine State Police investigators met Tuesday with Auburn police, representatives from the Attorney General’s Office and Maine’s chief medical examiner, Dr. Margaret Greenwald.

“There has been progress made,” McCausland said. “And there is more work to do.”

He said no timetable has been set for further action.

“There have been no decisions made on charges or any procedures,” he said.