On August 11, 2023, deputies responded to a home on Coon Richard Road near Morse in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, regarding an unresponsive 2-month-old infant. Emergency personnel performed life-saving measures, and the child was transported to a local hospital where the baby died. Autopsy and toxicology results received on October 31, 2023, determined the cause of death was acute methamphetamine intoxication; the manner of death was ruled undetermined. Investigation revealed that the child's mother, Autumn Navarre, age 27, had used methamphetamines during her pregnancy and continued using up until the infant's death. A search warrant was executed on the home and drug paraphernalia was discovered. Navarre was arrested on November 3, 2023, and charged with one count of negligent homicide, with bond set at $100,000.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
All three documents confirm the infant died of acute methamphetamine intoxication. The FOIA document (LA_23_834_FOIA.pdf) lists the cause of death as "Acute methamphetamine intoxication." The KPLC article states "the infant died due to acute methamphetamine intoxication." The 973thedawg article headline references "Meth 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)
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)?
The 973thedawg article states: "a mother who, investigators say, used methamphetamines while she was pregnant, exposing the infant to the drug." The KPLC article states: "detectives learned the mother of the child, Autumn Navarre, 27, of Morse, had used and continued to use methamphetamines prior to and up until the infant's death." Both sources confirm prenatal substance exposure.
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 KPLC article states: "detectives learned the mother of the child, Autumn Navarre, 27, of Morse, had used and continued to use methamphetamines prior to and up until the infant's death." She was arrested and charged with negligent homicide in the death of her infant child. The 973thedawg article similarly confirms the mother's involvement: "investigators say, used methamphetamines while she was pregnant, exposing the infant to the drug, and may have continued using after the baby was born."
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?
The KPLC article states: "Navarre was arrested on Nov. 3 and booked into the Acadia Parish Correctional Facility, with a bond set at $100,000. She faces charges of one count of negligent homicide in the death of her child." The 973thedawg article similarly confirms: "The autopsy results and evidence found at the home in Morse led investigators to arrest 27-year-old Autumn Navarre on one count of negligent homicide in the death of her child."
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 KPLC article explicitly states: "detectives learned the mother of the child, Autumn Navarre, 27, of Morse, had used and continued to use methamphetamines prior to and up until the infant's death." The 973thedawg article states: "a mother who, investigators say, used methamphetamines while she was pregnant, exposing the infant to the drug, and may have continued using after the baby was born." Drug paraphernalia was also discovered at the home.
Notable Details
There is a notable discrepancy between the official manner of death and the criminal charges. The FOIA document (LA_23_834_FOIA.pdf) lists the manner of death as "Undetermined," yet the mother was still arrested and charged with negligent homicide. Additionally, the 973thedawg article headline describes the charge as "Murder" while the body of the article and the KPLC article both identify the actual charge as "negligent homicide," which is a significantly different offense. This divergence between the undetermined manner of death ruling and the negligent homicide charge is substantive for researchers analyzing how law enforcement proceeds with criminal charges even when the medical examiner does not classify the manner of death as homicide.
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