On the evening of January 13, 2023, 9-month-old Arya was found unresponsive in her parents' home in Madison, Wisconsin. Her father, Daniel Mallett, had brought her into the adult bed because she was crying in her crib; she fell asleep on his chest. When her mother, Samantha Trumm, went to check on them, she found the baby's face wedged in the crack between the wall and the mattress, not breathing, and called 911. Despite lifesaving efforts by first responders, the infant was pronounced dead at University Hospital before 11 p.m. Officers found extensive drug paraphernalia throughout the home, including syringes, a burnt spoon, and a prescription bottle that appeared to have been chewed on. Mallett admitted to using heroin that night, and both parents acknowledged methadone use. Toxicology testing revealed fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, heroin, and xylazine in the baby's system in quantities described as capable of causing death. Both parents were charged with child neglect resulting in death and ultimately pleaded guilty to lesser charges, receiving probation sentences.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Multiple sources confirm the presence of illicit drugs in the infant's system. The WKOW article states: "toxicology eventually showed there were illicit drugs in her system" and specifies "the presence of fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, heroin and xylazine were found" described as "significant intoxicants" and "in quantities capable of causing death." The Channel 3000 article corroborates: "toxicology testing found fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, heroin and xylazine... in the child's system." The archive.ph article further states the girl had "fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, heroin and xylazine... in her bloodstream."
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 parents' drug use impaired their ability to appropriately supervise the infant. The WKOW article notes that Mallett "admitted to using heroin on the night his daughter died" and then brought the infant into bed to co-sleep. The Channel 3000 article describes "what appeared to be a bottle of prescription medication that looked as if it had been chewed on," indicating the infant had access to medications in the home. The archive.ph article reports the DA stated that the parents' "addiction placed their child in danger of coming into contact with the substances which lead to the child's death." Drug paraphernalia including syringes, alcohol swabs, a burnt spoon, needles, and smoking devices were found throughout the home — all within potential reach of a 9-month-old.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
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?
The WKOW article describes a clearly unsafe sleeping arrangement: the father "brought the baby into bed with him" and Trumm "found the baby sleeping with Mallett in their bed. She said the baby's face was in the crack between the wall and mattress." The father admitted the baby "fell asleep on his chest, with her stomach to his" — this is a classic unsafe co-sleeping scenario. Moreover, the father admitted to using heroin that night, making the co-sleeping even more dangerous. Drug paraphernalia was found throughout the home, further indicating an unsafe environment for the infant.
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The fatality report states the infant resided with "her mother and her father" and found neglect substantiated against both parents. The WKOW article identifies Daniel Mallett as having "brought the baby into bed with him" the night she died and that he "admitted to using heroin on the night his daughter died." The archive.ph article refers to Mallett as having been charged "in the neglect-related death of his 9-month-old daughter." He was charged with and pleaded guilty to felony neglect of a child resulting in great bodily harm.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report substantiated maltreatment of neglect against both "the mother and father." The WKOW article identifies Samantha Trumm as the mother who was charged with "neglecting a child consequence of death." Trumm told officers she and Mallett "both used methadone." The archive.ph article states "Trumm pleaded guilty to felony child neglect in April 2024 and was sentenced to three years of probation." The DA stated that the parents' "addiction placed their child in danger of coming into contact with the substances which lead to the child's 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 WKOW article states: "On April 27, Samantha Trumm and Daniel Mallett were both charged with neglecting a child consequence of death in Dane County Circuit Court." The archive.ph article provides sentencing details: "Trumm pleaded guilty to felony child neglect in April 2024 and was sentenced to three years of probation. Mallett pleaded guilty on Jan. 6 to a more serious charge: felony neglect of a child resulting in great bodily harm" and was "sentenced to five years of probation."
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?
The WKOW article states that the charges against both parents had modifiers of "party to a crime and repeater for both." In Wisconsin law, the "repeater" enhancer (Wis. Stat. § 939.62) is applied when the defendant has prior criminal convictions. The inclusion of this modifier for both Trumm and Mallett indicates they each had prior criminal history predating this incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Substance use by the parents is extensively documented. The WKOW article states: "Trumm told officers she and Mallett both used methadone" and "Mallett admitted to using heroin on the night his daughter died." Drug paraphernalia found throughout the home included "syringes, alcohol swabs, an open prescription bottle that looked as if it had been chewed on, a burnt spoon and more." The Channel 3000 article describes "needles, smoking devices and what appeared to be a bottle of prescription medication." The archive.ph article describes Mallett as a "recovering drug addict" and notes the need for "continued recovery from substance abuse." The DA stated that the parents' "addiction placed their child in danger of coming into contact with the substances which lead to the child's death."
Notable Details
The archive.ph article describes notable prosecutorial and sentencing decisions. Despite both parents being originally charged with neglecting a child where the consequence was death, both ultimately pleaded guilty to lesser charges: Trumm to felony child neglect (sentenced to 3 years probation) and Mallett to felony neglect resulting in great bodily harm (sentenced to 5 years probation with a stayed 3-year prison sentence). When asked why the DA's Office didn't pursue convictions reflecting the child's death, DA Ismael Ozanne stated: "The question of whether or not their convictions needed to state that the child died doesn't change the fact that the worst thing to happen to them had already occurred regardless of the outcome of the case or the wording of the charging document." The Deputy DA characterized it as "more of a reckless crime than an intentional crime" and stated "This is a crime but it's also a tragedy, and it's a tragedy that happened to him." These statements and outcomes are notable for how the justice system characterized and resolved a case where a 9-month-old infant died with lethal quantities of illicit drugs in her system.
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