Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

The Maine Monitor reports that the grandmother stated: "They think it was a trauma to the spleen and he asked me, did I beat her up or something. I said no." This indicates investigators suspected the child suffered inflicted injury (trauma to the spleen), and the question of beating was directly raised during investigation. While the grandmother denied it, the subsequent endangerment charges stemming from the death circumstances and the community suspicion of child abuse support that inflicted injury was at least suspected. However, no confirmed finding of inflicted injury is stated.

Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?

The WGME article identifies Kathryn Susko as the child's guardian: "A Pembroke woman who was her grandchild's guardian is facing charges of endangering the welfare of a child." She was charged in connection with the teen's death, with charges that "stem directly from the circumstances that led to the teenager's death."

Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)

The grandmother, Kathryn Susko, is an adult relative (grandparent) who was charged in connection with the teen's death. The WGME article states: "A Pembroke woman who was her grandchild's guardian is facing charges of endangering the welfare of a child after the teenager died in June of 2022." The charges "stem directly from the circumstances that led to the teenager's death."

Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?

The Maine Monitor states: "Kathryn Susko said her grandchild had lived with her since the child was a baby." The WGME article confirms she was "her grandchild's guardian." The child was living with the grandmother (a relative, not a parent) in Pembroke at the time of death.

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

Multiple references confirm DHHS/OCFS involvement before the teen's death. The WGME article states: "Before the teen died, Maine Department of Health and Human Services was aware of the issues at Susko's house and assigned caseworkers to try to manage the situation." The Maine Monitor reports the grandmother saying: "They put me through hell... I've had hearings, virtual and everything… and then at the end, you ready for this one, they wanted me to sign that my grandchild's in jeopardy." She also confirmed "the state's Child and Family Services office had also interviewed her months prior to the teen's death." These indicate a prior history of child protective involvement.

Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?

The WGME article states that "approximately six months before the teenager died, Milo spent a day and a night at their house, at the request of DHHS," referring to the home of Trevor and Tova Hold, who the article identifies as having "fostered children for the agency at their house." The Maine Monitor corroborates: "She said Milo Susko had stayed briefly with Hold and her husband, who have been foster parents, several months before the teen died." This was a DHHS-arranged placement with licensed foster parents, indicating some history of foster care involvement, though the placement was extremely brief (one night).

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

The WGME article states: "Kathryn Susko, 73, has been charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child." The same article confirms the "charges stem directly from the circumstances that led to the teenager's death." While these are misdemeanor charges rather than homicide charges, an adult was charged in connection with the child's death.

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The WGME article states that neighbor Trevor Hold told the Bangor Daily News that "the grandmother and the teenager had a volatile relationship, and had been having difficulty with each other for years." The Maine Monitor reports the grandmother quoting investigators as saying: "They think it was a trauma to the spleen and he asked me, did I beat her up or something." The combination of a 'volatile relationship' and investigators asking about beating the child implies domestic violence in the household, although the term is never used explicitly and the grandmother denied physical violence.

Several substantive systemic issues and legal details are described. First, the Maine Monitor reports that "The state attorney general's office, which generally prosecutes capital crimes, had declined to bring criminal charges in the death," leaving prosecution to local authorities who brought only misdemeanor charges. Second, the DHHS/OCFS attempted to have the grandmother sign a declaration of jeopardy, which she refused: "they wanted me to sign that my grandchild's in jeopardy. I said my child is not in jeopardy." The Maine Monitor explains: "A declaration of jeopardy is necessary for the state to seek a protective order for a child who is in danger." Without this declaration, the state could not obtain a protective order, and the child remained in the home. Third, multiple community members and neighbors were critical of DHHS's failure to intervene. The WGME article quotes neighbor Trevor Hold: "Everyone in the neighborhood knew for years this was not a healthy environment for them to be in... This absolutely 100 percent falls in DHHS' lap." The case was highlighted in broader criticism of Maine's child protection system, with Lois-Ann Kuntz testifying to a foundation examining the 'broken Child Protection system.' Fourth, the child's name was reportedly included on a list of victims of transgender violence, and the case alarmed the transgender community. Finally, the cause of death was never publicly disclosed, and the medical examiner's office declined to release information.