On June 15, 2023, a 3-year-old boy was found unresponsive and not breathing at his home on Gilbert Street in Marinette, Wisconsin, and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The child lived with his father, the father's significant other (Samantha Wishman), and five other children; the child's biological mother was deceased. Wishman initially told police the boy had fallen down the stairs the night before, but the autopsy revealed injuries inconsistent with a fall, including multiple rib fractures, a lung laceration, significant head bruising, a distended abdomen, and multiplanar patterned bruising in anatomically protected locations. A medical expert from the Marshfield Child Advocacy Center concluded the child was a victim of non-accidental trauma. Wishman was charged with first-degree reckless homicide and neglecting a child-consequence is death. Text messages revealed she had expressed a desire to hurt the children to the father, and another child in the household reported Wishman used a belt, wooden spoon, and slapping as discipline. The child welfare agency substantiated neglect by Wishman and filed Petitions for Protection or Services for the five surviving children.
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 news article states: "Another child who lives in the house described Wishman using a belt on the children in the house, as well as other discipline including spanking, a wooden spoon, and slapping." Additionally, the autopsy found "multiple rib fractures and a lung laceration" and Dr. Iniguez concluded the child was "a victim of non-accidental trauma which led to his death," citing "multiplanar patterned bruising; bruising in anatomically protected locations; and severe internal injuries."
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?
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)?
The fatality report identifies the alleged maltreater as "the father's significant other" and the agency substantiated neglect to the child by this person. The news article identifies this individual as Samantha Wishman, 32, the father's girlfriend, who was "charged with first-degree reckless homicide and neglecting a child-consequence is death for the June 15, 2023 death." She is clearly a female paramour involved in the child's death.
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 documents multiple prior CPS reports. Most notably: "On November 8, 2021, the agency screened-in a CPS Report alleging physical abuse and neglect to the child and the child's now 6-year-old sibling, now 3-year-old half-sibling and the father's significant other's now 7-year-old and 5-year-old children by the father and his significant other. An assessment was completed by the agency, and the allegations of physical abuse and neglect were unsubstantiated." Additionally, the father's significant other had multiple prior CPS reports dating back to 2016, including a substantiated neglect allegation in January 2018.
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: "Samantha Wishman, 32, is charged with first-degree reckless homicide and neglecting a child-consequence is death for the June 15, 2023 death. An initial court appearance is scheduled for April 15."
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
Several notable details emerge from the source text: (1) The child's biological mother was deceased, leaving the child entirely in the care of his father and the father's significant other. (2) A prior November 2021 CPS report alleging physical abuse and neglect by the same alleged maltreater (the father's significant other) was investigated and unsubstantiated; the child subsequently died from what was determined to be non-accidental trauma attributed to that same individual. (3) The news article reveals text messages from Wishman to the father stating "I'm ready to hurt these mother (expletive) kids nobody (expletive) understands," suggesting the father may have received warning signs about Wishman's potential for violence toward the children. (4) There was a significant delay of approximately ten months between the child's death in June 2023 and the filing of criminal charges, with the initial court appearance not scheduled until April 2024.
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