Bre'asia Christine Dowdell, a 16-month-old girl from Fort Wayne (Allen County), Indiana, was dropped off by her mother on Aug. 10, 2023 to stay overnight with her mother's friend, Chrisona Bright, and Bright's girlfriend, Sharon Myers. When the mother returned the next morning the child was unresponsive and gasping (agonal breathing), and the mother called 911. The child had suffered head trauma, a brain bleed, a collapsed lung, and bleeding to at least one eye; doctors determined the injuries were non-accidental and consistent with violent shaking. She was intubated and treated in the pediatric intensive care unit for six days before being removed from life support, dying Aug. 17, 2023. The Allen County Coroner ruled the death a homicide caused by complications of blunt impact injuries of the head. Both caregivers refused to speak with investigators but admitted to a DCS caseworker that at least one of them had used fentanyl while caring for the child; both were arrested and charged with neglect of a dependent, with Myers later pleading guilty to reduced charges.
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 caregivers were charged with "neglect of a dependent by placing the dependent in a situation that endangers the child" (WANE), and they admitted "at least one of them used fentanyl the night they were taking care of the child," indicating the child was left in inappropriate/impaired supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The WANE article states the child "somehow suffered head trauma, a brain bleed, a collapsed lung and bleeding to at least one eye" and a doctor said "the injuries were not accidental and were likely caused by shaking the child." The death certificate (INME_2023_BD.pdf) lists cause of death as "COMPLICATIONS OF BLUNT IMPACT INJURIES OF HEAD."
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 WANE article reports a doctor said injuries "were likely caused by shaking the child," and the Journal Gazette notes "One said the trauma was consistent with violent shaking."
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
The Journal Gazette reports "Bright said she didn't know how the 1-year-old and the other girl got into her and Myers' bed, but they all slept together that night," describing a 1-year-old co-sleeping with adults who had used fentanyl — an unsafe sleep arrangement, though the death was attributed to inflicted head trauma rather than suffocation.
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?
The child was dropped off by her mother to stay overnight with the two women (family friends) who were caring for her when the injuries occurred — "The child's mother dropped the child off to Myers and Bright on Aug. 10... Myers and Bright are accused of having care of the child" (WANE), functioning as informal babysitters.
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
The DCS report lists the perpetrator as a "Family friend" and states the child "stayed all night with the mother's friend and the friend's girlfriend." The two women charged were Sharon Myers and Chrisona Bright, identified as caregivers at the time of the fatal injuries (WANE, Journal Gazette).
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 DCS report states "Number of previous unsubstantiated assessments for victim: 2," indicating prior child protection reports for this child.
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?
WANE reports "Fort Wayne police arrested 24-year-old Sharon Myers and 26-year-old Chrisona Denea Bright... on felony counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death," and later articles describe Myers pleading guilty and Bright facing trial.
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 caregivers "admitted that at least one of them used fentanyl the night they were taking care of the child" (WANE), and "Myers said she and Bright had snorted fentanyl through a straw" (Journal Gazette).
Notable Details
Notable systemic/legal details: despite the child having "2" previous unsubstantiated assessments, the DCS report notes "No open DCS involvement" at the time of death. Additionally, both caregivers "refused to speak to investigators" (WANE), and Myers obtained a plea agreement reducing her exposure from "20 to upwards of 45 years" to "1 1/2 years to 8 1/2 years" by pleading to lesser counts of neglect and assisting a criminal (WANE, Journal Gazette), a notably lenient outcome relative to the original Level 1 felony.
These fields were populated by an AI model and may contain inaccuracies. Review the links and PDFs provided for verification before citing. Contact [email protected] to report any inaccuracies where corrections are needed.