Gunner Bliss and his twin sister Madelyn were born prematurely at 34 weeks on Sept. 15, 2023, at WakeMed in Raleigh, NC, where the family was staying for neonatal care. On Oct. 6, while mother Savannah visited the twin in the NICU, father Noah Benjamin Bliss, 22, was watching Gunner. The infant suffered a brain bleed and swelling from head trauma, and nurses reportedly said the injuries indicated the baby had been shaken by his father. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by blunt force, with date of death 10/16/2023 in Orange County. Noah Bliss was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and intentional child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury.
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 cbs17 article states Noah Bliss was accused of "inflict[ing] serious bodily injury, brain swelling and brain bleed on G. Bliss." The WRAL article says "her husband assaulted Gunner" and the child "died 10 days later due to extensive head trauma." The ME report lists Cause of Death as "Blunt."
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 People article headline states the father "Allegedly Shook Newborn Son to Death" and notes nurses said the injuries "indicate he was shaken by his father." The WRAL article reports Noah Bliss "called the Johnston County Sheriff's office and told them that he was rocking the baby and may have done it too hard." The baby suffered a brain bleed and swelling from 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 Noah Benjamin Bliss as the infant's biological father who assaulted the child. The cbs17 article notes "the warrants also said Bliss was the infant's father," and the People article describes him "allegedly shaking his newborn son to death."
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?
The People article states that on Sept. 15 Savannah "gave birth to twins Gunner and Madelyn, who were born prematurely at 34 weeks." The family was staying at the hospital "while the baby received neonatal care."
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 cbs17 article states "Bliss was arrested for murder" and "charged with first-degree murder and intentional child abuse with serious bodily injury." The People article notes he "was arrested on Oct. 13 and charged with first-degree murder."
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 WRAL article describes notable legal developments: investigators and a prosecutor "started listening in his phone calls from jail," and that Noah Bliss "got in his car and told his wife he was going to Florida because he did not want to go to jail for murder." It also notes "Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman does not intend to seek the death penalty in this case." These details about flight risk, monitored jail calls, and the death penalty decision are materially relevant to understanding the case.
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