A two-month-old male infant died on or around August 22, 2022, while the family was staying at the Econo Lodge in Terre Haute, Indiana. The parents, Jalen M. Byrum (23) and Alicia Pacheco (20), both of Indianapolis, called 911 reporting the baby was not breathing. At the hospital, the child was found to be blue-gray in color, not breathing, with unresponsive eyes and formula in his lungs. An autopsy revealed blunt force injuries to the head as the cause of death, along with broken ribs in the process of healing and bruising consistent with abusive head trauma. Doctors indicated the formula aspiration was because the child could not protect his airway due to brain injuries while his bottle was propped. The couple had a prior child protection contact in Marion County in July 2022 for bruised arms later determined by Riley Children's Hospital to be inflicted wounds, but the case was ruled accidental. Hotel workers reported the parents would frequently leave the child alone. The father was charged with murder and neglect of a dependent resulting in death; the mother was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death.
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 states: "Workers at the Econo Lodge reported feeling uneasy about the family, noting the parents would often leave and walk to the mall or other area businesses for lengths of time without the child." Leaving a two-month-old infant unattended constitutes inappropriate supervision. Additionally, propping a bottle for a two-month-old in a swing rather than feeding the child directly is a lack of appropriate supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The news article states the autopsy found "numerous injuries, including broken ribs in the process of healing, and bruising 'consistent with abusive head trauma'." The cause of death was "blunt force injuries to the head." Additionally, a prior incident in July 2022 left the child's arms bruised, with injuries "determined by Riley Children's Hospital staff to be inflicted wounds."
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 news article explicitly states the autopsy found bruising "consistent with abusive head trauma." Additionally, doctors told police that "the presence of formula in the child's lungs was likely because the child was unable to protect his airway because of his brain injuries."
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
The news article describes the child being "swaddled in a blanket and placed into a swing with its bottle propped up by some sheets." A swing is not a safe sleep surface for an infant, and the propped bottle contributed to the child aspirating formula. Doctors stated the formula in the lungs was because "the child was unable to protect his airway because of his brain injuries and the bottle he was drinking from was propped."
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The news article identifies Jalen M. Byrum as "the child's father" and states he "has been charged with murder as well as neglect of a dependent resulting in death."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The news article identifies Alicia Pacheco as "the child's mother" and states she "has been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in 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)?
The news article states: "Investigators learned the couple had been in contact with Marion County social workers in July of 2022 regarding a previous incident that left the child's arms bruised, injuries later determined by Riley Children's Hospital staff to be inflicted wounds. Their case was found to be accidental with the parent's young ages listed as a factor in the determination."
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 the father, Jalen M. Byrum, "has been charged with murder as well as neglect of a dependent resulting in death" and the mother, Alicia Pacheco, "has been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death." Both appeared in Vigo County Superior Court 6 for pre-trial hearings and were held on $75,000 bond.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
The news article states: "The family had been staying at the Econo Lodge in Terre Haute." The Econo Lodge is a budget motel, qualifying as temporary shelter.
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 news article describes a significant systemic failure in the child protection system. In July 2022, Marion County social workers investigated the couple after the child's arms were bruised. Riley Children's Hospital staff determined these to be "inflicted wounds." Despite this medical finding, "Their case was found to be accidental with the parent's young ages listed as a factor in the determination." This means a prior report of inflicted injuries — confirmed by a children's hospital — was dismissed as accidental, and the child was left in the parents' care, leading to the child's death approximately one month later.
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