Five-year-old Aubrey Stowers was found dead at her home on Oak Street in Wurtland, Greenup County, Kentucky on June 17, 2023. Her death was attributed to multiple blunt force injuries. Her mother, Rachel Waddell (age 36), and Waddell's boyfriend, Christopher Stiltner (age 38), were both arrested approximately six months later and indicted by a grand jury on murder charges for engaging in conduct that created a grave risk of death and caused the child's 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)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The news article states the indictments describe the defendants as "engaging in conduct which created a grave risk of death to another person and thereby caused the death of a five-year-old child due to multiple blunt force injuries." Multiple blunt force injuries constitute inflicted injury.
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?
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?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The article identifies Rachel Waddell as "Aubrey's mother" and states she was arrested and indicted for murder. The indictment says she was "engaging in conduct which created a grave risk of death to another person and thereby caused the death of a five-year-old child due to multiple blunt force injuries."
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)?
The article identifies Christopher Stiltner as "Waddell's boyfriend" and states he was arrested and indicted for murder. The indictment says he was "engaging in conduct which created a grave risk of death to another person and thereby caused the death of a five-year-old child due to multiple blunt force injuries."
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 article states: "Christopher Stiltner, 38, and Rachel Waddell, 36, were arrested Thursday and taken to the Greenup County Detention Center." It further states: "the grand jury determined there was enough evidence to issue indictment warrants for 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 news article notes a significant delay of approximately six months between the child's death (June 17, 2023) and the arrests (January 11, 2024). KSP officer Shane Goodall explained: "We have to wait for tests to come back, which takes a long time." Additionally, Goodall emphasized a systemic issue regarding child abuse reporting: "A lot of times, children are afraid to speak out or they're threatened not to speak out... so they can't really speak for themselves sometimes, so we do rely on other people to speak out for them."
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