In September 2017, Eddie Meyers brought his 29-day-old son to Children's Hospital in Aurora, Colorado, where hospital staff discovered extensive non-accidental injuries including three broken ribs, multiple fractures to his arms and legs, a black eye, bruises, and a significant traumatic brain injury. The child's mother, Taja Shannon, later acknowledged that injuries had been present from as early as four days of age and that Meyers had been the primary caregiver during that period. The child was discharged to a medical foster home in October 2017, but as a result of his injuries never learned to crawl or talk, was blind, required a feeding tube, and was in and out of hospice care. The district attorney initially declined to prosecute in 2017-2018, citing insufficient evidence. The child succumbed to his injuries in December 2022, and the Arapahoe County Coroner ruled the death a homicide. Meyers ultimately pleaded guilty to child abuse negligently causing death and was sentenced to 24 years in prison, while Shannon pleaded guilty to accessory to a crime and received community corrections.
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)
Document 1 (9news) states that hospital staff "examined the child and determined he had multiple injuries that were 'non-accidental.'" These included three broken ribs, fractures to the right humerus, left femur, both tibias, a black eye, bruises to chin, cheek, elbow and inside of mouth, and "significant traumatic brain injury." These injuries were clearly inflicted upon the 29-day-old infant.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Document 2 (Denver Post) states that prosecutors allege the parents "engaged in actions that led to malnourishment, lack of proper medical care, cruel punishment, mistreatment, and an accumulation of injuries."
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Document 2 (Denver Post) states prosecutors allege the parents engaged in actions that led to "lack of proper medical care." Document 1 (9news) states Shannon "wanted to take the baby to his one-month checkup but Meyers told her 'no' and she never made the appointment." Additionally, the roommate "noticed the infant having what he thought could have been a seizure days before the child was taken to the hospital. He said he suggested that Meyers and Shannon take him to the hospital but they didn't seem too concerned."
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?
Document 1 (9news) states the child suffered a "significant traumatic brain injury" among multiple "non-accidental" injuries. The child was only 29 days old at the time. The brain injury was severe enough to leave the child blind, unable to crawl or talk, and ultimately contributed to his death. While the specific term "shaken baby syndrome" or "abusive head trauma" is not used, a non-accidental significant traumatic brain injury in a 29-day-old infant is strongly consistent with abusive head trauma.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Document 2 (Denver Post) states prosecutors allege the parents engaged in actions leading to "cruel punishment, mistreatment, and an accumulation of injuries." Document 1 (9news) details that Shannon "saw medical records that showed their son had sustained injuries as early as four days old," and the child was brought to the hospital at 29 days old with extensive injuries including three broken ribs, fractured humerus, fractured femur, buckle fractures of both tibias, black eye, multiple bruises, and significant traumatic brain injury. This pattern of injuries inflicted over approximately 25 days of life constitutes prolonged, deliberately cruel treatment.
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?
Document 1 (9news) identifies Eddie Meyers as the child's father: "Meyers brought the couple's 29-day-old son" and describes him as "A father is charged with first-degree murder after his son." He was charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. Document 3 states Meyers pleaded guilty to child abuse negligently causing death and was sentenced to 24 years in prison.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Document 1 (9news) identifies Taja Shannon as "the boy's mother" and states she is "charged with child abuse resulting in death and accessory to a crime." Document 3 states Shannon "pleaded guilty in January 2024 to one count of accessory to a crime and was sentenced to community corrections." Shannon knew of the abuse, covered for Meyers, failed to get the child medical care, and was charged and convicted for her role.
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?
Document 1 (9news) states that in mid-October 2017, "the infant improved enough to be discharged into the care of a 'medical foster home.'" The child remained in institutional care (medical foster home and hospice) from 2017 until his death in December 2022. Document 1 states the child was "again admitted to hospice care in late 2022 and succumbed to his injuries in December." The child was in the foster care/hospice system at the time of death.
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)
Document 1 (9news) states "the child never learned to crawl or talk" as a result of the significant traumatic brain injury. Document 2 (Denver Post) corroborates: "the infant never learned to crawl or speak, and was blind due to the brain injury." The child's inability to reach developmental milestones (crawling, speaking) as a result of the brain injury constitutes neurological developmental disability.
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Document 1 (9news) states "the child never learned to crawl or talk and was fed through a feeding tube. He was also blind as a result of the injuries." Document 2 (Denver Post) corroborates: "Fed through a tube, the infant never learned to crawl or speak, and was blind due to the brain injury." The feeding tube and blindness are physical disabilities.
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)?
Document 1 (9news) states that the hospital discovered non-accidental injuries in September 2017, the child was placed in a medical foster home in October 2017, and "In June of that year, a detective consulted with the District Attorney's office and they determined at that time, the case 'lacked sufficient evidence' to support charging Shannon or Meyers. The case was closed." The hospital discovery of non-accidental injuries, placement in foster care, and police investigation all indicate child protection involvement prior to the child's death in December 2022.
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?
Document 1 (9news) states "Eddie Meyers and Taja Shannon, the boy's mother, were both indicted in May. Meyers is charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. Shannon is charged with child abuse resulting in death and accessory to a crime." Document 3 states Meyers pleaded guilty to child abuse negligently causing death and was sentenced to 24 years in prison, and Shannon pleaded guilty to accessory to a crime.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Document 1 (9news) describes multiple instances of domestic violence. Shannon said she didn't confront Meyers about the baby's injuries because she was "scared" he would do something to her. Meyers told her what to say and his tone implied there would be "issues" if she didn't comply. A 2020 Englewood police report indicated "Shannon claimed Meyers said he would kill her." Shannon stated Meyers "said he would kill her and her cat and leave them for the apartment manager to find." Shannon also told police that Meyers commented "his friends said he should kill her."
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Document 1 (9news) states that Shannon told detectives that when the baby's injuries began (as early as four days old), "they were staying at a hotel, and it was only the two of them around the baby." The family was living in a hotel during the period the child sustained the initial injuries.
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
Several notable systemic and legal details emerge from the text. Document 1 (9news) states that in June 2018, "a detective consulted with the District Attorney's office and they determined at that time, the case 'lacked sufficient evidence' to support charging Shannon or Meyers. The case was closed" — despite the hospital having identified extensive non-accidental injuries in a 29-day-old infant. The case was only reopened more than five years later after the child died in December 2022. Additionally, Meyers was alleged to have engaged in animal cruelty: Shannon reported that in 2019, a cat was found "bleeding from the mouth" and a vet determined it had a brain injury "caused by someone hitting the cat in the head 'really hard.'" Shannon also stated Meyers planned to blame their roommate for the baby's injuries because the roommate had PTSD and was "easy to blame" and "unstable." Document 3 reports the resolution: Meyers' murder charge was dismissed via plea agreement and he pleaded guilty to child abuse negligently causing death, receiving 24 years; Shannon pleaded guilty to accessory and received community corrections.
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