Eight-week-old Adaline Janiszewski of Oak Lawn, Illinois, died on June 5, 2022, from craniocerebral injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome. Her father, Edward Janiszewski, 37, admitted to shaking the baby and slamming her head on a cushion during the early morning hours of May 30, 2022, when she would not stop crying. The child had previously been seen at Hope Children's Hospital on May 27 for a stomach illness and dehydration, and was brought back to the hospital on May 30 in an unresponsive state with severe head and brain trauma. She remained hospitalized until her death six days later. The Cook County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, and Janiszewski was charged with first-degree murder.
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)
Multiple sources describe inflicted injuries. The Patch article states: "Janiszewski admitted to shaking and slamming the baby's head on a cushion when she wouldn't stop crying during the early morning hours of May 30." The Fox32 article corroborates: "he admitted to police that he had shaken the girl and slammed her head on a cushion early on May 30."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
The Fox32 article states that hospital "Staff informed responding officers the child had initially been seen on May 27 with what was believed to be a stomach illness and dehydration." This indicates the child was experiencing dehydration as a medical condition.
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 Patch article explicitly states the baby "suffered injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome." The Fox32 article confirms the child had "injuries consistent with a baby that had been shaken." The ME report lists the primary cause as "CRANIOCEREBRAL INJURIES. CHILD ABUSE."
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?
Edward Janiszewski is consistently identified as the father of the child. The Patch article headline reads "No Bond For Oak Lawn Father Of Shaken Baby" and states he is charged with first-degree murder "in the death of his 8-week-old daughter." He admitted to shaking and slamming the baby. The Fox32 article likewise refers to him as responsible for the death of his daughter.
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)?
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 Patch article reports that "Edward Janiszewski, 37, of Oak Lawn, appeared Thursday before Judge Donald Havis on a first-degree murder charge." The Fox32 article states: "Edward Janiszewski has been charged with first-degree murder after the girl died on Sunday" and "Janiszewski was arrested Wednesday." He was initially charged with aggravated battery of a child on June 4, and charges were later upgraded to first-degree murder.
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 Patch article notes that Janiszewski was initially "charged with aggravated battery of a child June 4, and was free on $7,500 bond at the time of his arrest." Charges were only upgraded from aggravated battery to first-degree murder after the Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide. The fact that the father was released on a $7,500 bond for aggravated battery of a child (which resulted in a baby being hospitalized with severe brain trauma) before the child died and charges were upgraded is a notable detail regarding the initial charging and bond decisions. Additionally, the Fox32 article mentions the child had been seen at Hope Children's Hospital on May 27 for a stomach illness and dehydration prior to the fatal incident on May 30, which could raise questions about whether earlier abuse was missed.
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