A 6-year-old White boy died on December 3, 2023, after deputies were called December 1 to a home at 601 Perrytown Road in the New Bern area for an injured child. He was first taken to CarolinaEast Medical Center, then transferred to ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville (Pitt County), where he never regained consciousness; his body temperature was reportedly 86 degrees when found. An autopsy attributed his death to two blunt force trauma head injuries, and numerous bruises were noted on his body. The medical examiner ruled the manner of death a homicide. The boy had been living with his biological mother, her partner, and the partner's parents. Tracey Torres, 51, was arrested by the Craven County Sheriff's Office and charged with murder, with officials anticipating additional 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 WNCT/WSPA news article states "An autopsy determined the cause of the child's death to be two blunt force trauma head injuries. Numerous bruises were also noticed on the child." The medical examiner report lists Cause of Death: Blunt, Manner: Homicide, confirming inflicted 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?
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)?
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 news article reports "A North Carolina woman was in court on Monday morning facing a murder charge in the death of a 6-year-old boy who lived with her. Tracey Torres, 51... was arrested by members of the Craven County Sheriff's Office."
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 news article notes investigators found "a lot of very disturbing evidence" and that the child's "body temperature was 86 degrees" when found and "never regained consciousness," with the sheriff anticipating "additional charges as the investigation continues." There is also a jurisdictional nuance: the medical examiner report lists the Death County as "Pitt" (the child died at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville), while the investigation and arrest were handled by the Craven County Sheriff's Office for the incident at 601 Perrytown Road. The case originated as a child abuse investigation on Dec. 1 before becoming a homicide investigation after the child's death on Dec. 3.
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