On July 20, 2022, a 1-year-old girl was fatally shot in the chest by her 3-year-old brother at their home in South Greenfield, Dade County, Missouri. The children's mother, Chelsey Martin, was in another room doing dishes while the children were in the master bedroom watching a movie; their father, Stormy Baker, was outside tending to cattle. The bedroom contained multiple loaded firearms stored between a wall and a dresser. In a forensic interview, the 3-year-old told investigators that his sister had taken a toy from him, so he shot her with "daddy's gun." Investigators also found large amounts of marijuana throughout the home, which the father said he grew for personal use. Nearly a year later, in June 2023, both parents were charged with second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Both pled not guilty at their arraignment.
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?
All three documents describe the child's death as a shooting involving a firearm. Document 2 (fourstateshomepage) states: "The female child had a bullet hole in her chest." Document 3 (koamnewsnow) quotes the probable cause affidavit listing multiple firearms found in the bedroom: "a loaded Marlin Model 60 .22 rifle, a loaded Remington 12ga shotgun, and a loaded Ruger .22 rifle in the corner of the master bedroom." The 3-year-old brother told investigators he shot his sister with "daddy's gun."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The children were in a bedroom with multiple loaded firearms while the mother was in another room and the father was outside. Document 3 (koamnewsnow) states: "At the time of the fatal shooting the mother was doing dishes and the kids were in a bedroom watching a movie. The father was outside tending cows." Document 2 (fourstateshomepage) quotes Baker admitting: "It's my fault. I'm the one that left the ******* guns loaded in the house where they could get to it." The parents left a 3-year-old and 1-year-old unsupervised in a room containing multiple loaded firearms, which constitutes inappropriate supervision.
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?
All documents identify Stormy Baker as the father. Document 1 (KY3) states: "The prosecutor charged Stormy Baker, the father...with second-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death, and endangering the welfare of a child creating a substantial risk." Baker admitted to keeping loaded firearms accessible to the children and was charged with their daughter's death.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
All documents identify Chelsey Martin as the mother. Document 1 (KY3) states: "The prosecutor charged...Chelsey Martin, the mother, with second-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death, and endangering the welfare of a child creating a substantial risk." She was present in the home but not directly supervising the children in the bedroom where loaded firearms were stored.
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?
All three documents identify the 3-year-old brother as the one who shot the 1-year-old girl. Document 3 (koamnewsnow) states: "In a private interview by a Forensic Investigator at the Children's Advocacy Center the boy (3) said his sister had taken a toy from him. So he shot her." Document 2 (fourstateshomepage) quotes the child telling troopers: "he shot his sister with 'daddy's gun.'"
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?
Both parents were charged. Document 1 (KY3) states: "The prosecutor charged Stormy Baker, the father, and Chelsey Martin, the mother, with second-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death, and endangering the welfare of a child creating a substantial risk." Document 2 (fourstateshomepage) confirms: "Baker and Martin were in the Cedar County Jail as of today, June 12." Document 3 (koamnewsnow) adds: "They both pled not guilty at their arraignment."
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?
Multiple documents reference marijuana use by the father. Document 3 (koamnewsnow) states: "According to court documents there was a large amount of marijuana in the home. The father told investigators he grew it for his own use." Document 1 (KY3) states: "Missouri Highway Patrol investigators say they found bags of marijuana in the home." Document 3 also quotes the probable cause affidavit: "Search of the residence revealed large amounts of loose marijuana in the kitchen and in the living room."
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the sources. First, there was a nearly year-long delay between the fatal shooting (July 20, 2022) and the filing of charges (June 2023). Second, a forensic interview at the Children's Advocacy Center revealed that the 3-year-old's stated motive was that his sister took a toy from him. Document 3 (koamnewsnow) states: "In a private interview by a Forensic Investigator at the Children's Advocacy Center the boy (3) said his sister had taken a toy from him. So he shot her." Third, the father made a self-incriminating statement at the scene. Document 2 (fourstateshomepage) quotes Baker: "It's my fault. I'm the one that left the ******* guns loaded in the house where they could get to it." Fourth, the 3-year-old also told troopers "he shot the parents," per document 2, which is an unusual and somewhat ambiguous statement from the child interview. Finally, the probable cause affidavit detailed four separate firearms in the master bedroom along with large amounts of loose marijuana throughout the house, suggesting a chaotic and unsafe environment for young children.
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