On November 22, 2023, 8-month-old Asher Joseph Johnson drowned in a bathtub at his home in Sparta Township, Michigan, while his mother, Olivia Miller (age 23), was home alone with him. Miller claimed she left the baby sitting in a bathtub filled a few inches with water running while she went to an adjacent laundry room for five minutes, returning to find him floating face-down. However, investigators determined through cellphone analysis that Miller was on her phone continuously from 3:17 p.m. until she called 911 at 3:38 p.m. with only an 18-second break, contradicting her five-minute claim. First responders attempted CPR and rushed the baby to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, where he was pronounced dead. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as asphyxia by drowning and the manner of death as accident. Miller was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
The medical examiner report states the immediate cause of death was "Asphyxia by drowning" and the description of injury is "Decedent submerged in a bathtub." All news articles confirm the child drowned in a bathtub.
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The Newsweek article states the "baby was left alone in a bathtub while she was on the phone for more than 20 minutes." Phone records showed the mother "used her phone from 3:17 p.m. until she called 911 at 3:38 p.m." with "only an 18-second break in her phone usage." The mother claimed she left the baby "for five minutes while she went to the adjacent laundry room," but phone evidence contradicts this. The WZZM article also notes that detectives "conducted an extensive investigation that revealed circumstances were different than originally presented."
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)?
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 Newsweek article identifies the mother, Olivia Miller, as the person responsible: "Investigators determined that Miller was home alone with her baby when the boy drowned." She was charged with involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse. The WZZM article also states charges were authorized against "the boy's 23-year-old mother who was home alone with the child at the time."
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 Newsweek article states: "Olivia Miller, 23, of Sparta Township, Michigan, is facing one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of second-degree child abuse in the November 2023 death of her 8-month-old son, Asher Johnson." She was "arrested Thursday on felony charges" and "is currently being held on a $300,000 bond at the Kent County jail."
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 Newsweek article reveals significant discrepancies between the mother's account and digital evidence. Miller claimed she left the baby for five minutes, but phone records showed continuous phone usage from 3:17 p.m. to 3:38 p.m. with only an 18-second break. Additionally, four minutes before calling 911, she texted her father that she was "Just trying to talk while I have time while Asher's taking a nap," suggesting she may have been misrepresenting the baby's situation even before discovering the drowning or that she was unaware of it for an extended period. The medical examiner also "estimated that the infant had been lying on his back on the floor for a minimum of 20 minutes before authorities arrived," which further suggests the timeline was longer than Miller initially claimed. The investigation found Miller "gave varying stories of what occurred surrounding Asher's death."
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