On January 11, 2022, 4-year-old Masiela Decaro-Pagan was found dead alongside her unresponsive mother, Jacinda Decaro, in a hotel room at the Star Island Resort near Kissimmee, Florida. The mother and child had left their shared home with the maternal grandmother on January 8, 2022. In the days before the death, the mother expressed suicidal ideation to a friend during a FaceTime call, stating she wished she could go to sleep and not wake up, and sent a depressed voice message to an ex-paramour. When the mother failed to show up for work on January 10, the grandmother initiated a well-being check that led to the discovery. The cause of death was diphenhydramine (Benadryl) toxicity, ruled a homicide. Investigators believe the mother intentionally poisoned her daughter before attempting to take her own life. A note reading "I'm sorry" was found at the scene. The mother survived and was charged with first-degree murder on March 9, 2022, but was later found incompetent to proceed with criminal proceedings.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The fatality report states the cause of death as "Diphenhydramine Toxicity (Benadryl)" and includes toxicology findings showing "Postmortem peripheral blood with 1.890 mg/l of diphenhydramine" and "Postmortem gastric content containing 4.420 mg/l of diphenhydramine." The news article also states "investigators believe Decaro intentionally poisoned her daughter with Benadryl." This is clearly a child drug ingestion/overdose case.
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)?
The fatality report states that the Department of Children and Families investigation was closed with "Verified Findings of Death, Substance Misuse, and Inadequate Supervision as to Masiela Decaro-Pagan." This is an explicit official finding of inadequate supervision.
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?
The evidence strongly supports a murder-suicide attempt. The fatality report describes the mother expressing suicidal ideation: "she wished she could go to sleep and just not wake up." Both the mother and child were found unresponsive in the hotel room, with the child dead and the mother in critical condition. The news article explicitly states: "Deputies said they responded to the Star Island Resort near Kissimmee that day for a reported attempted suicide" and "investigators believe Decaro intentionally poisoned her daughter with Benadryl and tried to kill herself." The mother completed the murder of her child but survived her own suicide attempt.
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 fatality report identifies Jacinda Decaro as the child's mother and states: "On March 9, 2022, the mother was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder." The news article confirms "investigators believe Decaro intentionally poisoned her daughter with Benadryl and tried to kill herself." The biological mother was directly responsible for the child's 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 fatality report states: "On March 9, 2022, the mother was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder." The news article confirms: "Jacinda Decaro was transported from the sheriff's office to the Osceola County Jail on Wednesday on a charge of premeditated murder."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
The fatality report states the child "passed away after being found unresponsive along with her mother in their hotel room at a resort in Kissimmee." The news article identifies it as "the Star Island Resort near Kissimmee." The family normally "resided with the maternal grandmother in Orange County," making the resort/hotel stay a temporary arrangement. The death occurred in a hotel, which is listed as an example in the question.
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report contains extensive references to the mother's mental health. During a FaceTime call, "the mother discussed feeling down in her life and how she wished she could go to sleep and just not wake up." She told her ex-paramour "how she felt depressed that their relationship did not work out." She avoided therapy, saying "she did not want to talk to a therapist because they would be required to report what she said to child protective services and then she would lose her child." The report also notes "The mother had no mental health diagnoses." Additionally, "As of December 14, 2022, the mother remained incompetent to proceed with criminal proceedings. The mother remained in the state hospital" and "the mother is receiving therapy in jail."
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states the DCF investigation closed with "Verified Findings of Death, Substance Misuse, and Inadequate Supervision as to Masiela Decaro-Pagan." The report also notes that "Several prescription medications under the mother's name were found along with bottles of Tylenol PM and Benadryl." These findings establish substance misuse by the parent/caregiver.
Notable Details
The fatality report contains a significant detail about a barrier to mental health treatment. The mother told a friend "she did not want to talk to a therapist because they would be required to report what she said to child protective services and then she would lose her child." This indicates the mother avoided professional help due to fear of mandatory reporting, despite expressing suicidal ideation. Additionally, the fatality report notes that as of December 14, 2022, "the mother remained incompetent to proceed with criminal proceedings" and "remained in the state hospital," raising questions about her mental state at the time of the incident and the legal proceedings. The report also notes an apparent typographical error in the investigation closure date ("January 26, 2028" likely should be 2023), and despite the mother having no prior mental health diagnoses and no prior abuse history, the incident still occurred.
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