On December 16, 2022, a 4-year-old Black/African American girl was pronounced deceased with multiple injuries. She had been living part-time with a non-relative caregiver, the caregiver's significant other, and his mother, and part-time with her biological mother in a separate home. The Medical Examiner's Office determined the death was due to non-accidental head trauma. The agency substantiated physical abuse by the caregiver's significant other and neglect by the caregiver, the significant other, and his mother. The caregiver's significant other was charged with Physical Abuse of a Child (Repeated Acts Causing Death), 1st Degree Reckless Homicide, and Neglecting a Child (Consequence is Death). The caregiver was charged with Neglecting a Child (Consequence is Death) and Chronic Neglect (Consequence is Great Bodily Harm). The significant other's mother was also charged with Neglecting a Child (Consequence is Death). Two other children in the caregiver's household were determined unsafe and taken into protective custody.
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 fatality report states the child had "multiple injuries" and was "pronounced deceased." The Medical Examiner determined death was due to "non-accidental head trauma." The caregiver's significant other was charged with "Physical Abuse of a Child, Repeated Acts Causing Death" and "1st Degree Reckless Homicide." The agency substantiated "maltreatment of physical abuse to the child by the caregiver's significant other." These findings clearly indicate 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?
The fatality report states: "The Medical Examiner's Office determined the death was due to non-accidental head trauma." Non-accidental head trauma is synonymous with 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?
The fatality report describes the child's primary caregiver in the home where the death occurred as a "non-relative caregiver" with whom the child was "living part-time." The child also lived part-time with her biological mother in a separate residence. This informal part-time caregiving arrangement by a non-relative is functionally analogous to a babysitter. The non-relative caregiver was charged with "Neglecting a Child (Consequence is Death) and Chronic Neglect of a Child (Consequence is Great Bodily Harm)."
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)?
The fatality report identifies the caregiver's significant other as the person who physically abused the child. The caregiver is described as female ("her significant other") and the significant other fathered a child with the caregiver (the 5-year-old child of the caregiver and her significant other), indicating the significant other is male. He was charged with "Physical Abuse of a Child, Repeated Acts Causing Death, 1st Degree Reckless Homicide, and Neglecting a Child (Consequence is Death)." While he is not the biological mother's paramour, he is the male partner of the non-relative caregiver in whose household the child resided part-time, functioning analogously to a male paramour figure in the child's living situation.
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)?
The fatality report documents multiple prior CPS reports. For the caregiver: a screened-out report on September 19, 2022; a screened-in report on May 7, 2019 alleging neglect (unsubstantiated); a screened-out report on December 27, 2018; and a screened-in report on July 3, 2017 alleging neglect (unsubstantiated). For the caregiver's significant other's mother: a screened-in report on August 7, 2006 alleging neglect (unsubstantiated). For the child's mother: screened-in reports on October 30, 2017 and December 26, 2014 alleging neglect to the child's half-sibling (both unsubstantiated), and a screened-out report on October 15, 2015. These represent a history of prior child protection reports involving the child's caregivers and 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 fatality report states the caregiver's significant other was charged with "Physical Abuse of a Child, Repeated Acts Causing Death, 1st Degree Reckless Homicide, and Neglecting a Child (Consequence is Death)." The caregiver was charged with "Neglecting a Child (Consequence is Death) and Chronic Neglect of a Child (Consequence is Great Bodily Harm)." The caregiver's significant other's mother was charged with "Neglecting a Child (Consequence is Death)." Three adults were criminally charged in connection with the child'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
The fatality report reveals several notable circumstances. The child was in an informal, part-time living arrangement with a non-relative caregiver, splitting time between the caregiver's household and her biological mother's home. The criminal charge of "Physical Abuse of a Child, Repeated Acts Causing Death" against the caregiver's significant other indicates a sustained pattern of abuse rather than a single incident. Additionally, the charge of "Chronic Neglect of a Child (Consequence is Great Bodily Harm)" against the caregiver further indicates prolonged neglect. Remarkably, three adults in the same household were all criminally charged in connection with the child's death, including the caregiver's significant other's mother, who was also charged with neglect resulting in death. The biological mother, who maintained a separate residence and had the child part-time, was not charged, and her case was closed with no referral to services.
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