On July 11, 2023, shortly before 6 a.m., a 911 call was placed from a home on Palace Avenue in the Stockdale community of Claymont, Delaware, reporting an unresponsive and unconscious 5-year-old girl. New Castle County police, paramedics, and EMS responded and attempted to provide first aid, but the child was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy conducted by the Delaware Division of Forensic Science determined the cause of death to be fentanyl and cocaine toxicity. Nearly a year later, on June 11, 2024, 28-year-old Keith Bulloch of Claymont—identified by the Delaware News Journal as the child's father, though investigators did not officially confirm the relationship—was arrested after a foot pursuit and charged with Murder by Abuse or Neglect in the First Degree and Resisting Arrest. He was held on $1 million cash bail at the Howard Young Correctional Institution.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Multiple documents explicitly state the child died from drug exposure. The law enforcement press release (Document 2) states: "the Delaware Division of Forensic Science determined the cause of death to be fentanyl and cocaine toxicity." Document 5 describes it as "the overdose death of his 5-year-old daughter."
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)?
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?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Document 5 (Delaware News Journal) explicitly identifies Bulloch as the child's father: "A 28-year-old Claymont man has been charged with first-degree murder by abuse or neglect in the overdose death of his 5-year-old daughter." Document 4 corroborates: "Bulloch was the child's father, the Delaware News Journal reported, though investigators did not confirm that." Document 1 notes: "Investigators have not revealed Bulloch's relationship to the child." While investigators did not officially confirm the relationship, the Delaware News Journal independently reported it as fact.
Was a biological mother involved in 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)?
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?
Multiple documents confirm Keith Bulloch was charged and arrested. Document 2 (law enforcement press release) states: "Keith was transported to the New Castle County Police Headquarters where he was charged with the following: Murder by Abuse or Neglect in the First Degree, Resisting Arrest." Document 1 states: "Bulloch was transported to the New Castle County Police headquarters and charged with murder by abuse or neglect and resisting arrest."
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?
While no document explicitly states that Bulloch was using drugs, the child died from fentanyl and cocaine toxicity in Bulloch's home, and he was charged with murder by abuse or neglect. The presence of fentanyl and cocaine in a residence with a 5-year-old child, leading to her fatal exposure, strongly implies the parent/caregiver's involvement with these substances. Document 4 (NY Daily News) states: "On July 11, 2023, police reported to Bulloch's home in Claymont, Del., responding to a 911 call about an 'unresponsive and unconscious 5-year-old female.'" The autopsy confirmed fentanyl and cocaine toxicity as the cause of death.
Notable Details
Document 4 (NY Daily News) provides notable epidemiological context about the broader trend of fentanyl exposure among children: "Fentanyl exposure among children has soared exponentially over the past three years, according to the U.S. Poison Centers — from 120 cases in kids younger than 6 in 2020, to 539 by 2023. That's a 5,290% increase since 2016, when there were 10 cases." Additionally, there was a nearly year-long gap between the child's death on July 11, 2023, and the arrest warrant obtained on June 11, 2024, suggesting a lengthy investigation. The suspect also attempted to flee and was captured after a foot pursuit, as noted in Document 2: "Detectives with the Special Investigations Squad located Keith and after a foot pursuit, took him into custody."
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