Three-year-old Tamsin Sauer was found unresponsive by her mother in Nelson, Illinois, in March 2022 and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was cerebral and cerebellar infarcts from dural sinus thrombosis due to dehydration and malnutrition caused by an obstructive trichobezoar (a 280-gram ball of hair) in her stomach. The child appeared severely malnourished and had been sick and vomiting in the days before her death, but her parents did not seek medical care. The family had an extensive history with DCFS dating back to 2009, and at the time of the toddler's death, there was a pending child protection investigation with the parents repeatedly refusing the CPI entry to the home. Her parents, Frank Sauer and Dana Sauer, were indicated by DCFS for death by neglect and were later indicted and charged with endangering the life or health of a child.
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 fatality report states that "the children were often seen outside unattended" and that the parents "left preteen siblings in charge of the younger siblings overnight." These are explicit references to inappropriate supervision of the children in this family.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The fatality report describes multiple instances of inflicted injury on children in this family. It states: "the mother grabbed the 7-year-old by the hair," "the 12-year-old was seen dragging younger siblings by the hair down the street," and "Police reported they observed the 5-year-old with a scrape on her jawline and marks on her neck."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
The fatality report lists the cause of death as "Cerebral and cerebellar infarcts from dural sinus thrombosis due to dehydration and malnutrition due to an obstructive trichobezoar of the stomach" and states "First responders reported the toddler had a bump on her head and appeared severely malnourished." The news article corroborates: "It was also reported that Tamsin was dehydrated and malnourished at the time of her death."
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The fatality report states: "The mother reported the toddler was sick and vomiting in the days prior to her death, but they did not seek medical care." Additionally, the mother stated "the children did not have a primary care provider" and she herself "was pregnant, due that month, and had not received any prenatal care." The child's death was caused by an untreated trichobezoar, dehydration, and malnutrition, all of which constitute 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?
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?
The fatality report states "DCFS investigated the toddler's death and indicated her parents for death by neglect." The news article identifies the father as Frank Sauer, 50, who was "indicted by a Lee County grand jury" and "charged with one count each of endangering the life or health of a child." The child shares the Sauer surname, indicating Frank is the biological father.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report states the child "was found unresponsive by her mother" and that "DCFS investigated the toddler's death and indicated her parents for death by neglect." The news article identifies the mother as Dana Sauer, 31, who was charged with endangering the life or health of a child.
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?
The fatality report states: "The father withdrew the children from school and continued refusing to cooperate with DCFS." While the deceased child was only 3 years old and may not have been school-age herself, the father's action of withdrawing all the children from school effectively isolated the family from mandatory reporting systems that could have provided oversight of the toddler's welfare.
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 states: "The parents had a history with DCFS between 2009 and 2020, including five indicated investigations, and four prior intact family cases." Additionally, multiple reports were received in October-December 2021, including allegations of a child locked out without food or water, children seen unattended, children taking food at school due to hunger, hair-pulling, drug use, mouse infestation, and refusal of psychiatric evaluation. The reason for review notes "three unfounded child protection investigations within one year of child's death" and a "pending child protection investigation at time of 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 news article states: "Frank Sauer, 50, and Dana Sauer, age 31 of Nelson were indicted by a Lee County grand jury Monday, then later charged with one count each of endangering the life or health of a child."
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?
The fatality report states: "DCFS received a report that the mother grabbed the 7-year-old by the hair and the father used crack cocaine." Additionally, paramedics "administered Narcan because of concerns of drug use in the home," further suggesting substance use in the household.
Notable Details
The fatality report reveals significant systemic failures. Despite multiple DCFS reports from mid-October through December 2021 — including allegations of children locked outside without food, children taking food at school because they hadn't eaten, drug use, inadequate supervision, and mouse infestation — the parents repeatedly denied the CPI entry to the home and refused to cooperate. The CPI contacted the State's Attorney to request a court order for services, but the fatality report explicitly notes "The request was pending at the time of the toddler's death." The father also "withdrew the children from school and continued refusing to cooperate with DCFS," effectively cutting off another critical oversight mechanism. This sequence of events highlights a substantial gap in the child protection system's ability to intervene when parents refuse access, even in the face of mounting reports of danger to children.
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