Luna Rayne Six, a 5-month-old girl, was found deceased on November 27, 2023, in her parents' apartment at 240 Hillcrest Drive in Marietta, Ohio, after her father called an acquaintance rather than 911 to report the child was not breathing. Officers found the child's emaciated body on the floor in early stages of decay, wearing a fleece onesie with a diaper filled with feces, in a home with the thermostat set to 80 degrees. The home was in deplorable condition with heavy insect infestation, rotted food, broken glass, and other hazards. The child weighed only 7.7 pounds at autopsy, far below the 2nd percentile for age. The cause of death was complications from dehydration and malnutrition, contributed to by an unsafe sleeping environment. No medical assistance had been sought in the last three weeks of the child's life. Both parents, Noah Boyd Six and Shila Kathryn Day, were indicted on charges including involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide. At least one other child in the home was also found to be suffering from malnutrition and failure to thrive.
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)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Both documents extensively describe malnutrition, starvation, and dehydration. Document 1 quotes the prosecutor: "The conclusion of the autopsy was … definitely dehydration and malnutrition to the point of starvation." Document 2 states the cause of death was "complications from dehydration and malnutrition" and that "the child weighed only 7.7 pounds, which is less than the 2nd percentile by age." The child was described as "looking emaciated" when found.
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Document 1 states: "No medical assistance was sought over the last three weeks of the girl's life." This is explicit evidence of medical neglect for a child who was deteriorating from dehydration and malnutrition. The prosecutor also stated: "We don't believe there would have been any way the parents could not have seen the deterioration of their child."
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)?
Document 1 states: "Both children were born with high levels of THC in their systems." This is direct evidence of prenatal substance exposure. The article further references the National Institute on Drug Abuse's findings on prenatal cannabis exposure and its potential effects on fetal brain development.
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?
Document 2 explicitly states: "the death was contributed to by an unsafe sleeping environment. The unsafe sleep environment was listed as a rocker, fleece onesie, heavily soiled diaper, elevated temperature, residence in a state of gross neglect and heavy insect infestation." The thermostat was set at 80 degrees and the child was in a fleece onesie.
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Document 2 identifies Noah Boyd Six as one of the parents arrested "for the death of their 5-month-old daughter, Luna Rayne Six." The child shares the father's surname, and both documents consistently refer to Six and Day as the child's parents. He was indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, permitting child abuse, and endangering children.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Both documents identify Shila Kathryn/Katherine Day as one of the parents. Document 2 states she was arrested "for the death of their 5-month-old daughter, Luna Rayne Six." She was indicted on the same charges as Noah Six, including involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide.
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?
Document 1 states that Noah Boyd Six and Shila Kathryn Day "were indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide." Document 2 confirms: "The Marietta Police Department arrested a Marietta couple Feb. 15 on an eight-count indictment for involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in connection with the death of their 5-month-old daughter." Both parents were arrested and taken to Washington County jail.
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?
Document 1 states: "Both children were born with high levels of THC in their systems," which directly implies maternal marijuana use during pregnancy. Additionally, Document 2 describes the home as "littered with prescription medications, a large can of Butane, rotted food, alcohol," which, while not explicitly stated as being used by the parents, suggests substance presence in the caregivers' environment.
Notable Details
Several notable details not addressed by the preceding questions stand out. Document 2 states the child's body was "in the early stages of decay" when officers arrived, and the autopsy noted "evidence and artifacts consistent with postmortem cockroach activity," indicating the child had been dead for some time before being discovered. Additionally, the father did not call 911 but instead called an acquaintance, who then contacted police. Document 2 also notes that "the parents gave inconsistent stories about what part of the house they slept in the night before, and which room the baby was sleeping in." There is also a discrepancy between the two articles regarding how many other children were in the home: Document 1 references one older sibling (~18 months old), while Document 2 states "Two other children were removed from the home and placed in the care of Children's Services."
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