On January 1, 2022, at approximately 7:40 PM, emergency services responded to a report of a possible cardiac arrest involving three-year-old Bentley Smith at a residence on Kennedy Circle in Greenville, North Carolina (Pitt County). The child was transported to Vidant Medical Center where he later died. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force injuries and cardiac arrest, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. The child's father, Danny Smith Jr. (age 29), was initially arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter, felony child abuse, inflicting serious bodily injury, and misdemeanor larceny. Subsequently, both parents — Danny Smith and the child's mother, Tara Stancil (age 34) — were indicted on first-degree murder and child abuse charges.
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)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The medical examiner report (NC_22_220.pdf) lists the cause of death as "Blunt force injuries and cardiac arrest" with the manner of death ruled "Homicide." While no specific mechanism of infliction (e.g., punched, kicked) is described, blunt force injuries in the context of a homicide ruling for a 3-year-old strongly imply that injuries were inflicted upon the child. The WNCT article additionally notes a charge of "inflicting serious bodily injury."
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?
Multiple sources identify Danny Smith Jr. as the child's father and as having been arrested and charged. The medical examiner report (NC_22_220.pdf) states: "The father, Danny Smith Jr., was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse." The WITN article confirms both parents were "indicted with first-degree murder and child abuse charges for their child Bentley Smith's death."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The WITN article states: "Greenville police say the mother of a three-year-old child who died earlier this month is now facing charges along with the father." It further identifies "34-year-old Tara Stancil and 29-year-old Danny Smith have been indicted with first-degree murder and child abuse charges for their child Bentley Smith's death." She is identified as the mother and charged with murder and child abuse.
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 medical examiner report (NC_22_220.pdf) states: "The father, Danny Smith Jr., was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse." The WITN article further reports that both parents were subsequently "indicted with first-degree murder and child abuse charges": "34-year-old Tara Stancil and 29-year-old Danny Smith have been indicted with first-degree murder and child abuse charges for their child Bentley Smith's death."
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
Several notable legal details emerge across the sources. The father's charges were escalated from involuntary manslaughter to first-degree murder. The WITN article reports that both parents were later "indicted with first-degree murder and child abuse charges," upgrading from the initial involuntary manslaughter charge filed on Jan 3rd. Additionally, the WNCT article notes Danny Smith Jr. was also charged with "misdemeanor larceny" alongside the child death charges, which is an unusual charge in the context of a child fatality case and is not explained further in any source.
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