Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

Multiple sources document inflicted injuries. The fatality report states M.T.J. arrived at the hospital with "life threatening, non-accidental trauma injuries." The AOL article states the child was brought to the hospital "without a pulse and with 'obvious signs of abuse.'" The WMUR article states the child was brought to the hospital "with bruising and scars" and diagnosed with "an acute traumatic brain injury." The ME report confirms the cause of death as "Acute traumatic brain injury" with manner "Homicide." Additionally, the fatality report documents a prior incident where "M.T.J. being hit by a 30lb suitcase thrown by the child's father."

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

The fatality report documents significant medical neglect. The 2023 FAR assessment involved the caseworker asking the mother to have M.T.J. receive "a medical evaluation as soon as possible." The mother repeatedly delayed and eventually refused to provide medical provider information. The report states: "The assessment was closed on June 20, 2023. At the time of the case closure the mother had not cooperated with providing information regarding any medical assessment." The Committee discussion also noted the case was "closed without verification that the child received medical care/assessment and without discussing supports for the family surrounding the toileting and neglect identified in the referral."

Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?

The ME report (WA_24_2832.pdf) lists the cause of death as "Acute traumatic brain injury" and the manner as "Homicide." The WMUR article states the child "was also diagnosed with an acute traumatic brain injury." While the specific clinical terms "shaken baby syndrome" or "abusive head trauma" are not used, the death resulted from intentionally inflicted traumatic brain injury, which is by definition abusive head trauma.

Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?

The fatality report describes the death of M.T.J.'s sibling in an unsafe sleeping environment: "the infant died while bed sharing with two adults and two other children." The medical examiner cited "external factors" noting the infant "died while bed sharing" as part of the Sudden Unexplained Infant Death determination.

Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?

Demiko Fox, the person charged with second-degree murder, was the partner of the maternal uncle and had "no biological connection" to the child per the Boston25 article: "Police said Fox was tasked with being the caregiver by the child's mother and that there is no biological connection." The fatality report identifies the child was "brought to the emergency department by [redacted] maternal uncle and his partner." Fox is not a biological relative and not the mother's romantic partner, but he is a non-relative male who was entrusted with the child's care and is the perpetrator.

Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)

The fatality report states M.T.J. "was brought to the emergency department by [redacted] maternal uncle and his partner." The maternal uncle is a biological relative who was part of the caregiving arrangement when the fatal injuries occurred. While the person charged (Demiko Fox) is described as the uncle's partner with "no biological connection," the maternal uncle was part of the household where the child was being cared for at the time of the fatal incident.

Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?

The fatality report states the child "was brought to the emergency department by [redacted] maternal uncle and his partner." The Boston25 article states "Fox was tasked with being the caregiver by the child's mother." This indicates the child was in the care of the maternal uncle and Fox at the time of the incident, but it is unclear whether this was a permanent living arrangement or a temporary caregiving situation.

Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)

The fatality report's Committee Discussion notes "her children have significant developmental and behavioral needs." M.T.J. also experienced toileting regression (using pull-ups while in third grade at approximately age 6-7). M.T.J.'s sibling was described as unable to "focus or sit still" during the interview. While these details suggest developmental concerns, no specific neurological or developmental disability diagnosis (e.g., autism, intellectual disability) is named in the text.

Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)

The fatality report states: "Concern for the children was heightened due to all the children being born prematurely and having respiratory struggles. M.T.J. had significant gastrointestinal problems previously requiring medical intervention." These medical conditions (premature birth with respiratory issues and significant GI problems requiring medical intervention) suggest physical health concerns, though the text does not explicitly describe an ongoing diagnosed physical disability.

Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?

The fatality report states: "Concern for the children was heightened due to all the children being born prematurely and having respiratory struggles." This explicitly documents prematurity for M.T.J. and the siblings.

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

The fatality report extensively documents prior CPS involvement: "there were seven screened in intakes between 2015 and 2023" and "There were 12 screened out intakes during that same time period." The report details multiple intakes involving neglect, physical abuse, and exposure to domestic violence. A FAR assessment was open in 2023 and closed on June 20, 2023. Dependency petitions were filed in March 2018.

Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?

The fatality report states: "M.T.J. and [sibling] were placed in out-of-home care in March 2018 after their baby [sibling] passed away and while an investigation regarding domestic violence (DV) was ongoing. The dependency case was dismissed in May 2021." The children were returned to the mother in October 2020. At the time of the fatal incident in April 2024, M.T.J. was not in foster care: "At the time of this intake the family did not have an open case with DCYF."

Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?

The fatality report documents the death of M.T.J.'s sibling: "During the investigation in March 2018, the mother's seven-month-old [sibling] died. The medical examiner's report stated the cause of death was Sudden Unexplained Infant Death with an undetermined manner of death due to external factors. Those external factors were that the infant died while bed sharing with two adults and two other children." This is a separate incident from M.T.J.'s death.

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

The AOL article states: "Demiko Fox, who is originally from the Seattle area, was taken into custody... Fox faces a charge of second-degree murder in Kirkland." The WMUR article confirms: "Demiko Fox, 22, was arrested in Bow in July. In a hearing Thursday in Concord Circuit Court, he agreed to go back to Washington to face charges." The Boston25 article also confirms Fox was arrested in connection with the child's death.

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The fatality report extensively documents domestic violence: "An intake in 2017 included lethal violence to include strangulation of the mother by one of the fathers and M.T.J. being hit by a 30lb suitcase thrown by the child's father." Additionally, "the father continued to be violent towards the mother with the children present" and the father was arrested for "violation of a DV protection order from 2017." The Committee discussion focused heavily on DV as a key factor in the case.

Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?

The fatality report references the mother's psychological evaluation: "concerns that were identified in the mother's psychological evaluation from the prior dependency case." While the specific findings of the evaluation are not detailed, the existence of a psychological evaluation with identified concerns implies that the mother's mental health was assessed and issues were found.

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

The fatality report documents prior criminal history: "The father was arrested" in 2017 for DV and strangulation. Later, "M.T.J.'s father was arrested for violation of a DV protection order from 2017." The AOL article states Fox "has a history of violent behavior," suggesting prior criminal/violent conduct predating the current incident. These arrests and behavioral history predate and are separate from the charges arising from M.T.J.'s death.

The fatality report identifies multiple systemic failures and policy gaps: (1) The region lacked a Child Protection Team (CPT), a resource the Committee believed could have benefited the family; (2) DCYF had no dedicated program manager for domestic violence, limiting specialized policy guidance and training; (3) The 2023 FAR case was closed without verifying that the child received medical care, despite blood found in the child's pull-up and significant family history of violence; (4) Staffing shortages in 2023 impacted the unit's ability to build relationships and conduct thorough assessments; (5) No policy existed for Safe Child Consultations (SCCs); (6) Father engagement and assessment was an identified unmet need; (7) The family's extensive DCYF history—including a sibling death, prior dependency, DV, and pattern of neglect—was "not fully appreciated during the 2023 case." The Committee also noted the mother's pattern of non-cooperation and that the caseworker documented the mother as "angry" without providing details or applying trauma-informed approaches.