Emmett Phillips, a 9-day-old boy, died on March 3, 2024, from positional asphyxia after being left in his car seat for approximately 13 hours in a Lawrenceburg, Indiana apartment. His mother, Raeleigh Phillips (age 22), returned home from visiting a friend with her children, and the baby was asleep in his car seat. She brought him inside but left him sleeping in the car seat while she and a sibling went to bed. When she checked on the baby approximately 13 hours later, she found him unresponsive with his head hanging to the side; he was cold and not breathing. The baby had not been fed for approximately 14 hours and was found wearing a soiled diaper. Hospital staff determined he had been dead for an extended period. The mother was arrested and charged with reckless homicide and neglect of a dependent. She had a prior 2022 conviction for neglect of a dependent in a separate case and two prior substantiated DCS assessments, yet there was no open DCS involvement at the time of the fatality.
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 the mother left the 9-day-old in a car seat while she went to bed and did not check on him for 13 hours, and he had not been fed for 14 hours. The news article says "Phillips left her son in his car seat for at least 13 hours" without feeding or checking on him. Leaving a 9-day-old newborn unattended and unsupervised for 13 hours constitutes inappropriate supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
The fatality report states "the child had not eaten for approximately 14 hours," and the news article corroborates: "the baby had not been fed in about 14 hours and was wearing a soiled diaper." For a 9-day-old newborn who requires frequent feedings, 14 hours without food constitutes a significant deprivation of sustenance, implying a starvation/dehydration concern even though the cause of death was positional asphyxia rather than malnutrition.
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?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
The fatality report states the mother "left the child in his car seat while she and the sibling went to bed." The child was left sleeping in his car seat for approximately 13 hours, and the cause of death was positional asphyxia. A car seat is a well-documented unsafe sleep environment for infants, and this was the direct mechanism of death. The news article confirms: "Phillips left her son in his car seat for at least 13 hours."
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?
The fatality report identifies the "Perpetrator: Mother." The news articles identify her as Raeleigh Phillips, 22, the child's mother who left the baby in the car seat. She is charged with reckless homicide and neglect of a dependent.
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 fatality report states "Perpetrator history of substantiated assessments: 2," indicating the mother had two prior substantiated child protection reports. The news article from WYMT confirms: "She was convicted of the latter charge [neglect of a dependent] in a different case in 2022." While the victim himself had no prior reports ("Number of previous unsubstantiated assessments for victim: 0" and "Number of previous substantiated assessments for victim: 0"), the mother's history satisfies the question's scope of '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 fatality report states "Criminal charges: Yes." The news article from WYMT reports: "Raeleigh Phillips, 22, is facing charges of reckless homicide and neglect of a dependent." The Cincinnati.com article confirms: "Raeleigh Phillips, 22, was arrested for the death of her son."
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?
The news article from WYMT states: "She was convicted of the latter charge [neglect of a dependent] in a different case in 2022." This is a prior criminal conviction that predates and is separate from the current fatal incident involving Emmett Phillips.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The fatality report notes that the perpetrator (mother) had a "Perpetrator history of substantiated assessments: 2" and the WYMT news article confirms she "was convicted of the latter charge [neglect of a dependent] in a different case in 2022." Despite this documented history of child maltreatment — including a criminal conviction for neglect of a dependent — the DCS report states there was "No open DCS involvement" at the time of the fatal event. This raises significant questions about ongoing monitoring and intervention for caregivers with substantiated child maltreatment histories and prior criminal convictions involving children.
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