On May 24, 2022, EMS responded to a call about an unresponsive 8-week-old infant at a home on Meadow Ridge Drive in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The baby, the son of John Franklin Noehl and Analise Bussone Noehl, was transported to the hospital in critical condition and later transferred to New Orleans Children's Hospital, where he died on May 27, 2022. The father claimed the baby became unresponsive after being placed in a portable bouncing rocker, and the mother said she was asleep during the incident. An autopsy revealed a 5.1-inch skull fracture on the right side of the head, five broken ribs at various stages of healing, intracranial hemorrhaging, internal bleeding, and bruising on the lower back. The rib fractures were 14 to 28 days old and showed healing, while the skull fracture was more recent. Medical staff concluded the injuries were consistent with non-accidental trauma and that CPR could not have caused them. The cause of death was blunt force injury to the head, and the manner was ruled homicide. Both parents were arrested and 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)
The FOIA document lists the cause of death as "Blunt force injury to head." The Law&Crime article describes the parents as "brutally beating their newborn child to death" and states medical staff concluded the infant was the victim of "non-accidental trauma." The autopsy revealed a 5.1-inch skull fracture, five broken ribs, intracranial hemorrhaging, internal bleeding, and visible bruising to the lower back. These injuries are clearly inflicted injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The Law&Crime article states that John Noehl told investigators "the victim had fallen out of the portable baby rocker approximately 4 weeks prior to sustaining his fatal injuries" and that "he and Analise did not seek medical treatment after the boy's initial fall from the rocker." The WBRZ article similarly states: "The parents did not take the baby to the doctor or seek any medical treatment for their child." Additionally, the healing rib fractures (14-28 days old) went untreated, and police noted the injuries "would have been evident to anyone that would have changed or bathed him." This failure to seek medical attention for known injuries constitutes 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 FOIA document lists the cause of death as "Blunt force injury to head." The Law&Crime article details that the pathologist found a "5.1-inch skull fracture to the right side of his head" along with "intracranial hemorrhaging" and "internal bleeding." Medical staff determined these were the result of "non-accidental trauma" and the manner of death was homicide. This constitutes 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?
John Franklin Noehl is identified as the child's father and husband of Analise Bussone Noehl. The Law&Crime article states the baby had "only been in the care and supervision" of his parents since birth. Both parents were charged with first-degree murder. While the word "biological" is not explicitly used, the context strongly implies he is the biological father — the child was described as "their newborn child" and "their 8-week-old son," and the baby was in their care from birth.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Analise Bussone Noehl is identified as the child's mother and wife of John Franklin Noehl. Both parents were charged with first-degree murder. The Law&Crime article states the baby had "only been in the care and supervision" of his parents since birth and the injuries "would have been evident to anyone that would have changed or bathed him." While the word "biological" is not explicitly used, the context strongly implies she is the biological mother.
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?
Multiple sources confirm both parents were arrested and charged. The Law&Crime article states: "Analise Bussone Noehl and John Franklin Noehl, ages 33 and 35, respectively, were taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with one count each of first-degree murder." The WBRZ article confirms: "Parents Analise Bussone Noehl and John Franklin Noehl were booked into jail on first-degree murder charges."
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 medical evidence revealed two distinct episodes of abuse: rib fractures that were 14-28 days old and showing calcium deposits (healing stage), and a more recent skull fracture that "did not show signs of healing, suggesting that this injury occurred more recently than fractured ribs" (Law&Crime article). This pattern of injuries at different healing stages is significant as it establishes repeated, separate incidents of inflicted trauma over the infant's brief life. Additionally, police emphasized that the victim had "only been in the care and supervision" of his parents since birth and that injuries "would have been evident to anyone that would have changed or bathed him," which was cited in support of the arrest warrant.
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