On July 7, 2023, a 2-month-old female infant of American Indian/Alaska Native descent was brought to the hospital with multiple injuries and was pronounced deceased on July 8, 2023. Medical professionals determined the injuries were non-accidental in nature. The Sawyer County agency substantiated physical abuse of the infant by the mother. At the time of the incident, the infant resided with her mother and father, while her 2-year-old sibling was already placed with relatives. The family had a history of prior CPS involvement, and the agency was actively assessing a neglect report for this infant at the time of the fatal incident. No criminal charges have been filed, and the criminal investigation remains open.
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 fatality report states the infant was "brought to the hospital with multiple injuries" and that "Medical professionals determined the injuries were non-accidental in nature." The agency "found a preponderance of the evidence to substantiate maltreatment of physical abuse to the infant by the mother." While no specific mechanism of injury is named (e.g., punched, kicked), the non-accidental multiple injuries constituting physical abuse strongly imply inflicted injury.
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?
The fatality report explicitly states: "The Initial Assessment completed by the agency found a preponderance of the evidence to substantiate maltreatment of physical abuse to the infant by the mother." The biological mother was the identified maltreater.
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 documents multiple prior CPS reports for both this child and the sibling. For this infant: "On June 26, 2023, the agency screened-in a CPS Report alleging neglect to the infant by the mother and father." For the sibling: "On January 6, 2023, the agency screened-in a CPS Report alleging neglect to the infant's now 2-year-old sibling by the mother and father. An assessment was completed by the agency, and the allegation of neglect was substantiated." Additionally: "On February 25, 2022, the agency screened-in a CPS Report alleging neglect to the infant's now 2-year-old sibling by the mother and father." There was also a screened-out report on September 28, 2022.
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?
Notable Details
The fatality report reveals that at the time of the infant's death, the agency was actively assessing a CPS report of neglect (screened in on June 26, 2023) for this very infant: "At the time of the incident, the agency was assessing a June 26, 2023, CPS Report alleging neglect to the infant by the mother and father. The last attempted contact by the agency with the mother and father was on June 28, 2023." This means the last agency contact attempt was nine days before the child was brought to the hospital with fatal injuries. Furthermore, the family had a documented CPS history including a substantiated neglect finding for the infant's sibling in January 2023, yet the case was closed after the Initial Assessment. No criminal charges were filed despite the substantiation of physical abuse by the mother, and the criminal investigation remains open.
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