Two-year-old Ezekiel Cassy died of fentanyl intoxication on October 14, 2022, in his father Claudy Cassy's apartment at 77 Maple St. in Manchester, New Hampshire. His mother, Rachel Pratt, discovered his body in his bed around 12:40 p.m., described as blue with clenched fists and lying beside vomit. Police found multiple drugs in the apartment, including fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine, marijuana, clonazepam, and DMT; 14 grams of fentanyl were hidden in a jar of white rice. Both Claudy Cassy and Idris Terrell, a man staying at the apartment, were charged with manslaughter and reckless conduct. This was the second drug overdose death at the same apartment in less than a year, as an adult had previously died there from an overdose.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
All three documents confirm that 2-year-old Ezekiel Cassy died of fentanyl intoxication. Document 1 states: "toxicology test results confirmed that the child died of fentanyl intoxication." Document 2 states: "Investigators accused Idris Terrell of allowing Ezekiel to be exposed to fentanyl."
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)?
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?
Claudy Cassy is the biological father and was charged with manslaughter, reckless conduct, and drug possession in connection with his 2-year-old son's death. Document 1 states: "Cassy, 35, faces charges of manslaughter and reckless conduct related to the death of his 2-year-old son from fentanyl intoxication." Multiple drugs were found in his apartment.
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)?
Idris Terrell, a man staying at the apartment, was charged with manslaughter and reckless conduct. Document 3 states: "Idris Terrell, 30, also is accused of recklessly causing the toddler's death by acting in concert with Cassy." Document 2 says he was accused of "allowing Ezekiel to be exposed to fentanyl." He is described as a man staying at the apartment, not a family member, making him a friend or associate.
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?
Document 1 states that Claudy Cassy was arrested and "A Hillsborough County grand jury subsequently indicted Cassy on manslaughter, reckless conduct and more than a dozen drug possession charges." Document 3 states: "Idris Terrell, 30, also is accused of recklessly causing the toddler's death by acting in concert with Cassy. He was charged with manslaughter and reckless conduct."
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 drugs were found in Claudy Cassy's apartment, and he was charged with "more than a dozen drug possession charges" (Document 1). The drugs found included fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine, marijuana, clonazepam, and DMT. The judge's bail conditions required Cassy to "refrain from using drugs and alcohol" (Document 1), further indicating substance use by the parent/caregiver.
Notable Details
Document 1 reports that this child's death was the second drug overdose death in the same apartment within less than a year: "This body was the second body taken out of this guy (Cassy's) apartment in less than a year," said prosecutor Shawn Sweeney. An adult had previously died from an overdose at the same address (77 Maple St.). Additionally, key witness Idris Terrell, later charged in connection with the death, "moved to Connecticut and told associates not to speak to Manchester police about the death." Document 2 provides broader context from the Chief Medical Examiner's Office that "in the past 10 years, six children under the age of 2 in New Hampshire have died from drug overdoses. Fentanyl was involved in five of those cases."
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