Liam Harbison, a 5-month-old boy born premature and with a history of failure to thrive requiring a feeding tube, died on May 13, 2024 in Lubbock, Texas, days after being brought to Covenant Children's hospital on May 8 with brain bleeds, bilateral hematomas, and a skull fracture deemed non-accidental trauma. The autopsy gave a preliminary cause of death of hypoxia with the manner being non-accidental injury to the brain. His parents, Casey Harbison and Kristal Morse, had relocated from Washington State to live with the maternal grandmother, Tiffany Whalen, reportedly to evade an ongoing neglect investigation. The father admitted placing a blanket over the infant's face to silence his crying and suffocating him; the mother admitted punching the child in the back of the head; the grandmother admitted cocaine use and knew of the abuse but failed to intervene. All three were arrested, and DFPS confirmed physical abuse by both parents (the mother's abuse leading to death) and neglectful supervision by the grandmother.
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)?
The fatality report states "The Department confirmed the deceased child's maternal grandmother committed neglectful supervision against the deceased child," indicating inadequate supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The news article reports the parents "admitting to punching their child and smothering him with a blanket," and the mother "admitted to punching the boy." The fatality report states "The deceased child's mother reported she once punched the deceased child."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
The fatality report states the child was "admitted into the hospital in the State of Washington on 1/5/2023 due to a diagnosis of inorganic failure to thrive" and "currently weighs 6 pounds, 3 ounces," requiring an NG tube to gain weight. The news article notes the son "was using a feeding tube."
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The fatality report describes a prior allegation of medical neglect: the child was hospitalized for "inorganic failure to thrive" and the parents "took out the child's nasogastric (NG) tube, cancelled the home visit scheduled with the dietician" before moving. The Department ultimately "did not confirm the mother or father committed medical neglect," but the topic of medical neglect was affirmatively investigated. The news article notes the parents removed the feeding tube before moving and were "under investigation by Child Services there for 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 child suffered "brain bleeds and a skull fracture in the back of his head" described as "consistent with non-accidental trauma" (news article), and the fatality report lists "non-accidental injury to the brain" as the manner of death with "bilateral hematomas." These constitute abusive head trauma, though the term "shaken baby" is not explicitly used.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
The news article states "Morse reportedly said her son slept in a crib padded with pillows instead of a mattress," an unsafe sleep arrangement. The father also placed blankets over the infant's face.
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The biological father, Casey Harbison, "admitted to suffocating his child with a blanket" and the fatality report confirms "the deceased child's father committed physical abuse against the deceased child."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The biological mother, Kristal Morse, "admitted to punching the boy" and the fatality report states "The Department confirmed the deceased child's mother committed physical abuse against the deceased child, which led to his 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)
The maternal grandmother, Tiffany Whalen, was arrested and the fatality report confirms she "committed neglectful supervision" and "had knowledge of abuse and failed to intervene or report it."
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)
The child had a feeding tube due to failure to thrive: the fatality report notes he was "discharged on 1/8/24 with a NG tube" and the news article states he "was using a feeding tube." He was also born premature.
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
The news article states "Morse reportedly said her son was born a month premature," and the fatality report documents failure to thrive with the child weighing only "6 pounds, 3 ounces."
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
There were multiple prior reports: the fatality report documents a Washington CPS report (intake 1/17/2024) and a Texas DFPS report (intake 1/20/2024) regarding failure to thrive, and the news article notes the parents "were under investigation by Child Services there for neglect."
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 states the mother, father, and grandmother "were arrested" and face felony charges; the father and mother "each face a count of aggravated assault of a family member with a weapon causing serious bodily injury."
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 fatality report states "The deceased child's grandmother admitted to cocaine use," indicating substance use by a caregiver.
Notable Details
A notable systemic issue is that the family relocated across state lines to evade child welfare oversight. The news article states the couple "reportedly fled from Washington State to Lubbock to avoid an investigation of neglect," and the fatality report notes the Washington case "was approved for closure as unable to be complete due to the family not being in Washington State and there being no known return date," illustrating a gap in interstate CPS coordination.
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