On November 20, 2023, in Tumbling Shoals, Arkansas, an RV fire killed infant Allen Davis Jr., one of twin babies. His mother, Diana Welch (34), told authorities she woke to her baby's screams and saw the RV's living quarters on fire. She claimed she did not search for Allen Jr. because she did not have her glasses on, instead grabbing his twin from the bed and escaping through the back hatch. After an unsuccessful attempt to open the locked driver's side door, Welch crawled back inside through a window and listened to the baby scream while watching the fire until he fell silent. First responders found the RV engulfed in flames and later discovered the baby's burned remains beside the front passenger tire. A detective noted Welch was able to text on her phone and sign her name without her glasses, contradicting her stated reason for not searching for the child. Welch was charged with first-degree child endangerment.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The news article identifies Diana Welch as the mother who was charged with first-degree child endangerment following the death. The article states she "did not search for him due to not having her glasses on" and later "listened to Davis Jr. scream while watching the fire until she could no longer hear him scream." Her failure to rescue the child directly contributed to the death.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The news article explicitly states: "A mother was arrested following an RV fire that caused her baby's death" and "Welch was charged with first-degree child endangerment."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
The family was living in an RV, as the article describes the mother sleeping in the RV and waking to the fire in the "living quarters of the RV." Living in an RV could be analogous to the question's examples of temporary or non-traditional shelter such as "living in car," though it is not conclusively temporary.
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The news article highlights a significant contradiction in the mother's account. Welch claimed she "did not search for him due to not having her glasses on," yet a detective noted she was "texting on her phone and signed her name without hesitation although she had no glasses on." Additionally, the article describes that Welch crawled back into the burning RV through a window but instead of attempting a rescue, she "listened to Davis Jr. scream while watching the fire until she could no longer hear him scream." These details are substantive to understanding the case and the basis for criminal charges.
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