Chaos Demilo McCarthy, a 16-month-old boy, was found dead in a ditch along North Morrish Road in Montrose Township, Michigan, on August 25, 2022. He had suffered a skull fracture, and his cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma. An autopsy also revealed methamphetamine in his system. His father, Michael Christopher Butler, was arrested the following day and charged with felony murder, first-degree child abuse, concealing a dead body, and third-offense domestic violence. The family had been essentially homeless, living in abandoned houses and shelters. Notably, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services had recommended against placing the child with Butler and petitioned for temporary foster care, but the court overruled this recommendation and awarded custody to the father, who had a documented history of violence. Butler was also separately charged with possession of methamphetamine.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Document 2 (mlive.com) states: "Data from an autopsy of Chaos Demilo... indicated the presence of the substance [methamphetamine] in the child's system at the time of his death." This is direct evidence that the child had a drug in his system, consistent with drug ingestion or exposure.
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)
Document 1 (abc12.com) states: "He's accused of fracturing his young son's skull, causing the boy's death." Document 2 (mlive.com) states: "The child had a skull fracture, and his initial cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma." These indicate inflicted injury causing a skull fracture.
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?
Document 1 states: "we believe that that child died as a result of the trauma to his head" and "He's accused of fracturing his young son's skull." Document 2 confirms: "The child had a skull fracture, and his initial cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma." While the specific term 'abusive head trauma' is not used, the inflicted blunt force trauma to the head causing a skull fracture in a 16-month-old child is consistent with 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?
Document 1 (abc12.com) states: "Police say it tragically came to an end at the hands of his own father, Michael Christopher Butler" and "He's accused of fracturing his young son's skull, causing the boy's death." Butler is identified as the child's biological father and is the one accused of killing him.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
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)?
Document 1 (abc12.com) states: "The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services removed three of the children from their mother's care" and "Authorities from the department recommended Chaos be placed in temporary foster care, but the court awarded custody to Butler instead." Document 2 (mlive.com) corroborates: "the child was placed in his father's custody despite a petition from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which asked that the child not be placed in Butler's custody." These indicate prior CPS involvement with the family before the child's death.
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?
Document 1 (abc12.com) states: "Butler was arraigned Tuesday on charges of felony murder, first-degree child abuse, concealing a dead body and third-offense domestic violence." Document 2 (mlive.com) confirms he was arrested the day after the body was found and is "lodged at the Genesee County Jail without bond."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Document 1 (abc12.com) lists among Butler's charges "third-offense domestic violence," and Document 2 (mlive.com) includes "aggravated domestic violence" among his charges. The "third-offense" designation in Document 1 also implies a prior history of domestic violence.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Document 1 (abc12.com) states: "Leyton said the family was 'essentially homeless.'" and "They were living in an abandoned house under very difficult circumstances." Document 2 (mlive.com) states: "Prior to his death, Demilo was living in deplorable conditions... the family was essentially homeless, living in abandoned homes in the area and occasionally staying in shelters." The death occurred while the family was 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?
Document 1 (abc12.com) explicitly states: "Butler's criminal record shows a history of abuse." Additionally, the charge of "third-offense domestic violence" necessarily implies at least two prior domestic violence convictions that predate the current fatal incident. These references clearly establish prior criminal history separate from the current charges.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Document 2 (mlive.com) states: "Butler is also charged in a separate case with possession of methamphetamine." This is direct evidence of substance use by the parent/caregiver. Additionally, the child had methamphetamine in his system at the time of death, further implying the father's involvement with the substance.
Notable Details
A significant systemic failure is described in both documents. Document 1 (abc12.com) states: "Authorities from the department recommended Chaos be placed in temporary foster care, but the court awarded custody to Butler instead. Leyton said state officials did not want the child placed with the father." Document 2 (mlive.com) corroborates: "the child was placed in his father's custody despite a petition from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which asked that the child not be placed in Butler's custody." The Michigan DHHS explicitly recommended against placing the child with his father — who had a documented history of violence — yet the court overruled this recommendation and awarded custody to Butler, who subsequently killed the child. This represents a critical failure in the custody decision-making process.
These fields were populated by an AI model and may contain inaccuracies. Review the links and PDFs provided for verification before citing. Contact [email protected] to report any inaccuracies where corrections are needed.