Sophia Faye Davis, a 19-month-old girl, died on February 8, 2022, from blunt force injuries to the head while in the care of her father's 20-year-old girlfriend, Cierra Coker, who was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a child. Approximately one month before her death, the child's mother picked her up from the father's home and discovered extensive injuries including facial bruising, a possible arm fracture, and other marks. The mother reported the injuries and DCFS opened a child protection investigation. However, DCFS failed to complete critical investigative steps, including a required scene reenactment, and the investigation remained pending. Despite the open investigation, the primary DCFS supervisor stated there was no urgent and immediate cause to prevent the child from visiting the father's home, and the child was returned for an overnight visit on February 5, 2022. The following day, the paramour reported the child was having trouble breathing and bleeding from her mouth. The child was transported to a hospital and airlifted to HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield, where she died two days later.
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 the child died from "blunt force injuries of the head" and the paramour was charged with "first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a child." The news article corroborates that Sophia "died as a result of a traumatic brain injury, due to blunt force injuries of the head." Additionally, the fatality report documents bruising "on the side of the child's face and body in various stages of healing," indicating repeated inflicted injuries. One month prior to death, the child presented with extensive injuries including "bruising on both cheeks, nose, upper lip, left eyelid, forehead, and left buttocks" and a possible arm fracture.
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 states the child "died from blunt force injuries of the head" and the news article states she "died as a result of a traumatic brain injury, due to blunt force injuries of the head." While the specific term "abusive head trauma" is not used, the fatal blunt force injuries to the head in the context of a first-degree murder charge constitute 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)?
The fatality report states the child "was found bleeding from the mouth and unresponsive while in the care of her father's 20-year-old paramour" and that "The father's paramour was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a child." The news article identifies her as "Sophia's father's girlfriend, Cierra Coker." The Department indicated the paramour for "death by abuse (#1)."
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)?
The fatality report documents two prior child protection investigations before the child's death. First, when the child was 2 months old, a report was filed regarding a registered sex offender living in the home, resulting in an investigation with allegations of "substantial risk of sexual abuse-sex offender has access (#22a)." Second, 16 months later (when the child was approximately 18 months old), the Department "initiated a child protection investigation" after the child presented with multiple injuries. This investigation for "cuts, bruises, welts, abrasions, and oral injuries by abuse (#11)" was "pending at the time of the child's death."
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 "The father's paramour was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a child." The news article identifies her as "Cierra Coker" and states she "is charged in Logan County with first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a child, accused of beating the toddler to death."
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
The fatality report details multiple significant policy and systemic failures by DCFS that directly contributed to the child's death. The hotline call floor worker omitted critical information from the reporter, including that "the father and his paramour gave multiple explanations to the mother and maternal grandmother about the child's injuries and that the father and paramour's explanations were not consistent with the child's injuries." The parallel child protection investigator failed to conduct a required reenactment per Procedures 300 Appendix B, stating "she did not conduct a scene investigation or reenactment because the primary investigative team did not request these tasks." The area administrator reported "ongoing issues with tasks related to parallel assignments" and that Procedures 300.50(n) "provides little guidance on the work required of the parallel investigator." Two weeks after the hotline call, with the investigation still open, the primary supervisor told the parallel investigator that "they did not have urgent and immediate cause to say that the child could not go to the father's home," effectively permitting visitation. The primary investigator told the mother that "the mother would be responsible if something happened to the child while at the father's home." After the death, the Department placed the primary child protection supervisor and investigator on desk duty for 72 days.
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