Mattilyn Kitner was born in January 2022 in New Hampshire with drugs in her system. DCYF intervened at birth, creating a safety plan within 24 hours that placed the baby with a friend of the mother rather than with the paternal grandparents who were seeking emergency custody. The safety plan stated the mother was not to be unsupervised with the baby at any time. On January 28, 2022, at 17 days old, first responders were called to a Somersworth home where Mattilyn was found unresponsive on a couch after co-sleeping with two adults in what was described as a 'dangerous sleeping environment.' The cause of death was asphyxia due to suffocation, and the manner of death was ruled an accident. The baby's biological father had died of an overdose approximately two weeks before the baby's death. The paternal grandparents subsequently filed a lawsuit against DCYF alleging negligence and wrongful death.
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?
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)?
The WMUR article states: "Jennifer and Joshua Kitner allege that in 2022, their granddaughter was born with drugs in her system." Additionally, "Records obtained by News 9 Investigates show Mattilyn's mother tested positive for ingesting fentanyl within a week of the baby's birth." Being born with drugs in her system constitutes prenatal substance exposure.
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 WMUR article quotes the autopsy report, which states the baby was "discovered unresponsive ... on (a) couch ... after co-sleeping with two adults" in a "dangerous sleeping environment." This is an explicit reference to 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?
The WMUR article states that the DCYF safety plan required "Mom will not be unsupervised with Mattilyn at any point in time, including through the night." The baby was "discovered unresponsive ... on (a) couch ... after co-sleeping with two adults" in a "dangerous sleeping environment." The grandparents said they "thought Mattilyn was not safe staying with her mother, saying she was a drug user." While the article does not explicitly identify the mother as one of the two adults on the couch, the entire framing of the story—the safety plan designed to keep the mother from being unsupervised with the baby, the grandparents' fears about the mother's drug use, and the baby ending up in a dangerous environment—strongly implies the mother was involved in the circumstances of 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)?
The WMUR article states that "DCYF immediately intervened" when the baby was born with drugs in her system, and "DCYF created a safety plan within 24 hours of Mattilyn's birth at the hospital." This DCYF intervention at birth constitutes a child protection report/action prior to the death 17 days later.
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?
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?
The WMUR article states: "Records obtained by News 9 Investigates show Mattilyn's mother tested positive for ingesting fentanyl within a week of the baby's birth." The grandparents also described the mother as "a drug user." Additionally, the biological father "died of an overdose," indicating substance use history for both parents.
Notable Details
The WMUR article describes several notable systemic issues: (1) DCYF placed the baby with a non-family member (a friend of the mother) under a safety plan rather than with the paternal grandparents who were actively seeking custody: "She went home with a non-family member, a non-blood-family member." (2) The grandparents' court date for emergency custody was set 30 days out, during which time the baby died at 17 days old. (3) There is a notable contradiction between authorities: the attorney general's office stated the death was "not drug-related or criminal," yet police called the case "suspended" and refused to release records, stating "The release of records could hinder future prosecution efforts" and that new information "could shift the case back to 'active.'" (4) The grandparents were never interviewed as part of the investigation: "our clients were never interviewed." (5) The attorney for the grandparents stated, "We haven't seen anything to suggest that the normal process of investigating this death occurred."
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