A 4-month-old girl was found unresponsive on a couch on September 24, 2022, by one of her mother's other children in their St. Johns County, Florida home. Another adult in the home called 911 and brought the baby to a fire station, where first responders administered life-saving measures before transporting her to Flagler Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The baby's core body temperature was 93.2 degrees upon arrival. An autopsy revealed the baby had a rhinovirus infection with chronic pulmonary inflammation and was dehydrated and underweight. Her mother, Sherrell Proctor, claimed the baby had developed a respiratory illness days before her death but failed to secure adequate medical care, with records showing only two doctor visits in nearly three months and four canceled or no-show appointments. The baby was living in a home described as having deplorable and unsafe sleeping conditions with at least seven other children. Proctor was arrested over a year later on negligent manslaughter charges.
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)?
The news article indicates that the baby was found unresponsive on the couch by "one of Proctor's children" and that Proctor "didn't learn of the baby's condition until she was on the way to the hospital." This implies the critically ill 4-month-old was not being adequately supervised by Proctor at the time she was found unresponsive.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
The news article states that the autopsy "revealed the baby had contracted rhinovirus infection with chronic pulmonary inflammation and was dehydrated and underweight at the time of her death."
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The news article describes multiple indicators of medical neglect. Proctor claimed the baby had a respiratory illness but detectives found the baby was only taken to the doctor "twice between July 1, 2022, and September 23, 2022, with four canceled or no-show appointments." Proctor also said she planned to take the child to the ER but "decided not to because there was a two-hour wait" and did not call the fire department because she "didn't know they did that." The autopsy confirmed the baby "had contracted rhinovirus infection with chronic pulmonary inflammation and was dehydrated and underweight at the time of her death."
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?
The news article states that the investigation revealed the baby was living in a home with "unsafe sleeping conditions." Additionally, the baby was found unresponsive "on the couch," and it is noted that "the baby wouldn't breathe whenever Proctor laid her down to go to sleep."
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 states that "Proctor, who is presumed to be the baby's mother" was arrested and charged with negligent manslaughter. The entire article describes Proctor's alleged negligence as the cause of the baby'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 news article states: "Sherrell Proctor, 34, was arrested on charges of negligent manslaughter in the child's death Monday morning." She is "currently being held in St. Johns County Jail on a $100,000 bond."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
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 details emerge. There is a significant discrepancy between the autopsy ruling the baby's death as "undetermined" and the police characterizing it as a "homicide" for charging purposes. The baby was living in a home with "deplorable conditions" and "unsafe sleeping conditions" with at least seven other children. Proctor claimed to have stayed up all night with the baby because she "wouldn't breathe whenever Proctor laid her down," yet another child — not Proctor — discovered the baby unresponsive on the couch the following morning, and Proctor did not learn of the baby's condition until she was already on the way to the hospital. Proctor's stated reasons for not seeking emergency medical care — a two-hour ER wait and not knowing the fire department could help — raise systemic questions about healthcare access and awareness among caregivers.
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