On December 20, 2022, 25-year-old father Donnie Reuben was the sole caretaker of his 4-month-old son, Men'Dce Reuben, at their Crown Heights, Brooklyn home. The father left the infant on the bed and went outside to smoke a cigarette. He told police that when he returned approximately 30 minutes later, the child was on the floor, unresponsive, and frothing at the mouth. The father called 911 and performed CPR before EMS arrived and transported the child to Kings County Hospital. Medical staff diagnosed the child with bilateral subdural hematomas, bilateral multilayered retinal hemorrhages, a right-side clavicle fracture, and global hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, all consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome and abusive head trauma. The father admitted to law enforcement that he shook the infant. The child was placed on life support, declared brain dead, and after a second confirmatory brain test on December 26, 2022, was removed from life support and declared deceased at 6:01 PM. The Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by inflicted head trauma. The father was arrested and charged with Manslaughter 2nd degree, Reckless Assault of a Child 2nd degree, Reckless Endangerment 2nd degree, Assault 3rd degree, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The child's mother had moved to a homeless shelter on December 6, 2022, due to arguments with the father, but continued to visit the child daily at the father's home.
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?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fatality report states the father "left the SC on the bed while he went outside to smoke a cigarette." The NY Daily News states he was gone "about 30 minutes" and returned to find the child on the floor. Leaving a 4-month-old unattended on a bed for approximately 30 minutes constitutes inappropriate supervision. The allegation of Inadequate Guardianship was substantiated against the father.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The fatality report states the child "sustained the injuries as a result of the SF shaking the SC" and that "the father admitted to shaking the baby prior to calling 911." The cause of death was "inflicted injury" ruled a homicide. The child was diagnosed with bilateral retinal hemorrhage, clavicle fracture, bilateral subdural hematomas, and abusive head trauma. The NY Daily News article reports "Doctors said Men'Dce suffered a brain hemorrhage and a fractured clavicle from the shaking."
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?
The fatality report explicitly states the child was "diagnosed with bilateral retinal hemorrhage, a right-side clavicle fracture, bilateral subdural hematomas, lack of oxygen to the brain, Shaken Baby Syndrome, and abusive head trauma." The ABC7 article states "Doctors discovered bleeding on the infant's brain, indicating he likely died of Shaken Baby Syndrome." The NY Daily News article states the child "was the victim of shaken baby syndrome."
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
The NY Daily News article reports, based on court documents, that the father "left the tot lying on a pillow at the edge of the bed with his face down before going outside." Placing a 4-month-old infant face down on a pillow at the edge of a bed is an unsafe sleeping/resting arrangement. While the actual cause of death was shaking rather than the sleeping environment, the text does describe the infant being placed in an unsafe position.
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The fatality report identifies the father (listed as the biological father in household composition, age 25, male) as the "Alleged Perpetrator." The report states "The father admitted to shaking the SC and was criminally charged" and "ACS found a fair preponderance of evidence that the father's actions caused the injury that led to the child's death." The news articles identify him as Donnie Reuben, the infant's father.
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)?
The fatality report explicitly states "Did the child have a history of alleged child abuse/maltreatment? Yes" and documents a CPS report dated 12/20/2022 (prior to the child's death on 12/26/2022) with allegations of Inadequate Guardianship (substantiated) and Lack of Medical Care (unsubstantiated). However, this prior report pertains to the same incident that ultimately led to the child's death—it was filed when the child was hospitalized but still alive. There is no CPS history separate from the fatal incident.
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 fatality report states: "Law enforcement arrested the father, and he was charged with Manslaughter 2nd, Reckless Assault of a Child 2nd degree, Reckless Endangerment 2nd degree, Assault 3rd degree, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child." The NY Daily News confirms: "The father was charged with reckless assault of a child on Dec. 20."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states in the services section: "Despite the mother expressing previous DV concerns, no services specific to this need were offered/explored." This explicitly references domestic violence concerns involving the parent/caregiver relationship.
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 fatality report identifies several significant systemic and compliance failures. First, ACS failed to interview the incarcerated father despite him being the alleged subject and ACS knowing his incarceration location: "the record did not reflect the father was interviewed despite being the alleged subject." Second, ACS failed to produce requested documents to OCFS on three occasions (4/19/23, 4/24/23, and 4/27/23), a violation of 18 NYCRR 428.10(a). Third, despite the mother having expressed previous domestic violence concerns regarding the father, "no services specific to this need were offered/explored." Fourth, the mother had moved to a homeless shelter on 12/6/22—just 14 days before the fatal incident—due to arguments with the father, leaving the 4-month-old as the sole responsibility of the father. Fifth, the report notes that "New York City Administration for Children's Services does not have an OCFS approved Child Fatality Review Team."
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