Three-month-old Colson Murtlow died on March 15, 2024, from inhalation of products of combustion and thermal burns after an apartment fire in Martinsville, Indiana. The fire was likely caused by a Glade candle that a surviving sibling knocked from a nearby table into the infant's bassinet while rocking the baby. The child's mother, Kathryn Swartz (22), had lit the candle earlier and left the children in the care of the father, Tyler Murtlow (26), while she went to a nearby vape store. The father was heavily intoxicated with a BAC of 0.262 and was asleep when the fire started. When the surviving child alerted the father, he failed to act promptly, eventually exiting the home with the older siblings and the family dog but failing to report that the infant was still inside until questioned by law enforcement. Firefighters found the infant in his crib on the second floor suffering from first, second, and third-degree burns; he was transported to the hospital where he died. Both parents were charged with neglect resulting in death, and additional charges of child exploitation and possession of child pornography were filed after investigators found sexual content involving children on the couple's shared phone.
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 "Law enforcement stated the father was heavily intoxicated" with a BAC of 0.262, and that the mother "left the children at home with the father while she ran an errand." The Fox59 news article confirms the mother was at a vape store, while the father was sleeping and heavily intoxicated. A surviving child told police "'Daddy did nothing'" when asked about the father's response to the fire, and "When asked what nothing was she said he was drunk." The father failed to account for the infant and instead grabbed "the siblings and the dog" when exiting. This constitutes grossly inappropriate supervision.
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?
The Fox59 news article details charges of vicarious sexual gratification, child exploitation, and possession of child pornography against both parents. Investigators found videos on a shared phone showing "Swartz can be seen performing oral sex on a man identified as Murtlow, who was reportedly standing 'in front of the toddler playing on the floor.'" Another video showed Swartz masturbating while "a toddler can be seen playing in the background." Photos showed a naked toddler near Swartz. These acts constitute sexual abuse/exploitation of the children in the household.
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 Fox59 news article states that "an insurance investigator found the remnants of a candle near a bassinet in the room where the fire started." The mother had lit a candle in the room where the infant was sleeping in a bassinet/crib. A surviving child told police that the candle "fell from a nearby table, landed in the crib and set the area ablaze." A lit open-flame candle in close proximity to the infant's sleeping area created a hazardous sleeping environment that directly caused the fatal fire.
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The fatality report lists "Father" as a perpetrator. The child's surname is Murtlow, matching the father Tyler Murtlow. The Fox59 article refers to the child as "the couple's 3-month-old child, Colson Murtlow," identifying Tyler Murtlow as the father. The father was heavily intoxicated (BAC 0.262), sleeping while responsible for the children, and failed to rescue the infant from the fire.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report lists "Mother" as a perpetrator. The Fox59 article identifies Kathryn Swartz as the mother of the child. The fatality report states she left the children with the intoxicated father, and tested positive for THC. She also lit the candle near the bassinet that caused the fire. Both parents were charged with neglect resulting in 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 fatality report states "Perpetrator history of substantiated assessments: Father, 3; mother, 1." While the victim child had zero prior reports ("Number of previous unsubstantiated assessments for victim: 0; Number of previous substantiated assessments for victim: 0"), the perpetrators had prior substantiated child protection assessments, indicating a history of CPS involvement for the family.
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 "Criminal charges: Yes." The Fox59 article confirms: "Kathryn Swartz, 22, and Tyler Murtlow, 26, were charged Tuesday in Morgan County Superior Court 3 with several felonies including neglect of a dependent and neglect resulting in death." Both parents face "three counts of child neglect and one count of child neglect resulting in death each."
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 father's BAC was 0.262 and that "The mother and father admitted that the father was an alcoholic." It further states "The mother submitted to a drug screen and was positive for THC." The Fox59 article corroborates: "Murtlow was intoxicated with a BAC of .262, and Swartz tested positive for THC." The house also contained "Smoking remnants" and "alcohol containers."
Notable Details
The Fox59 news article reports several substantive details not addressed by the preceding questions. During the investigation into the fire, investigators discovered child pornography and evidence of sexual exploitation on a cell phone shared by the parents, leading to additional felony charges including child exploitation, vicarious sexual gratification, and possession of child pornography. After both parents were arrested, they were observed engaging in lewd behavior during jail video calls, with the father reportedly telling the mother that if she had a photo of one of their children, she should put it next to her breast so the child "could see everything." The father also reportedly said "Hopefully they don't watch this one" during the call. Additionally, the father had 3 prior substantiated DCS assessments and the mother had 1, yet there was no open DCS involvement at the time of the fatal event, raising questions about the adequacy of prior child protection oversight.
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