On June 11, 2021, two-year-old Alani Green suffered a traumatic brain injury while in the sole care of her mother's paramour, Lyndarious Strange Jr. He claimed he playfully pushed the child, causing her to fall and hit her head, but medical professionals determined the injury resulted from a high-velocity sudden impact inconsistent with his account; the news article characterized the cause as beating. The injury left Alani in a quadriplegic state, unable to communicate, dependent on a permanent tracheotomy tube for breathing and a gastrostomy tube for nutrition, requiring 24-hour care. On June 1, 2023, while being cared for by a home health nurse, the child's oxygen levels fluctuated and she stopped breathing. She was transported to a hospital but could not be revived. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as complications of blunt head trauma sustained in 2021, and the manner of death as homicide. Strange Jr. was initially charged with aggravated child abuse and later charged with first-degree murder; he was apprehended in Hawkinsville, Georgia by the U.S. Marshals Service in January 2024.
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)
The fatality report states that the paramour claimed he "playfully pushed the child, causing her to fall backward and hit her head on the laminate covered floor," but medical professionals determined "the brain injury was the result of a high velocity sudden impact and not a result of the explanation provided by the paramour." The news article from WCTV further states that "investigation revealed that the child suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of being beaten by her caretaker, Strange Jr." This constitutes inflicted injury.
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?
The fatality report describes a "traumatic brain injury" resulting from "a high velocity sudden impact" inflicted by the paramour while the child was in his sole care. The cause of death was "complications of blunt head trauma sustained in 2021." The news article states the child was beaten by her caretaker, causing the traumatic brain injury. This constitutes 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?
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)?
The fatality report identifies Lyndarious Strange, Jr. as the mother's "Paramour" and states: "the child suffered a traumatic brain injury while in the sole care of the mother's paramour." The news article confirms he was charged with "first-degree murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse." He is directly responsible for the injuries that caused the child's death.
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)
The fatality report states the child was left in a "quadriplegic state" and "was unable to communicate" following the traumatic brain injury. While this neurological impairment was acquired rather than developmental, the child was effectively nonverbal (one of the examples given in the question) and had severe neurological deficits resulting from the brain injury.
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
The fatality report explicitly states that following the 2021 traumatic brain injury, the child was left "in a quadriplegic state. She was unable to communicate and was dependent on a permanent tracheotomy tube to assist in breathing and gastrostomy tube to provide nutrition. The child required around the clock care from a home health agency and her mother." This clearly describes a physical disability including dependence on a 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)?
The fatality report references a prior investigation from 2021: "Following the criminal investigation completed in the 2021 investigation, the paramour was charged with aggravated child abuse." This indicates there was a prior investigation and criminal charge stemming from the 2021 injury to this child, which predates the 2023 death investigation.
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: "Following the criminal investigation completed in the 2021 investigation, the paramour was charged with aggravated child abuse." The news article further confirms: "Lyndarious Strange Jr., 24, faces a first-degree murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse charge" and that he "was then located in Hawkinsville, Georgia by the U.S. Marshals Service...and arrested on January 19."
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 from these documents. First, the paramour's explanation for the child's injury—that he "playfully pushed the child, causing her to fall backward and hit her head on the laminate covered floor"—was explicitly contradicted by medical professionals who determined "the brain injury was the result of a high velocity sudden impact and not a result of the explanation provided by the paramour." The news article further characterized the injury as the result of the child being "beaten." Second, there was a two-year gap between the initial injury in June 2021 and the child's death in June 2023, during which the child required around-the-clock medical care in a quadriplegic state. Third, the paramour was initially only charged with aggravated child abuse in 2021, and was not charged with first-degree murder until after the child's death, at which point he had to be located in Hawkinsville, Georgia by the U.S. Marshals Service.
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