On June 17, 2022, 15-month-old Zyanya Ranee Ramirez was placed in a booster seat in a bathtub by her 19-year-old mother, Kaitlyn Cecil, who then left the child unattended for approximately 10 minutes. The mother returned to find the child unresponsive with her face fully submerged in water. The child was transported by fire department to a local emergency department and then airlifted to another hospital, where she remained unresponsive in the PICU until her death was pronounced on June 20, 2022. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as drowning and the manner of death as accident. The Arizona Department of Child Safety conducted a joint investigation with the Casa Grande Police Department and substantiated allegations of neglect against the mother on January 16, 2024. There were no other children in the home and no prior DCS history.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
All three documents explicitly reference drowning. The fatality summary report states the child "drowned after being left unsupervised in a bathtub." The medical examiner report lists Cause of Death as "DROWNING" and Submanner as "Drowning -Bathtub." The preliminary report also states the child "drowned after being left unsupervised in a bathtub."
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Multiple documents describe the child being left unsupervised. The fatality summary report states the child "drowned after being left unsupervised in a bathtub." The medical examiner report provides more detail: the mother "placed her in the booster seat and then left her unattended for approximately 10 minutes."
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?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality summary report states: "the Department substantiated the allegations of neglect to Zyanya Ramirez by her mother, Kaitlyn Cecil." The medical examiner report confirms the child was "found unresponsive in a booster seat in a bathtub with her face fully submerged in water by her mother, who placed her in the booster seat and then left her unattended." The preliminary report identifies the alleged perpetrator as "Kaitlyn Cecil – age 19 – Casa Grande, AZ."
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?
The medical examiner report states: "Charges are currently pending." This indicates criminal charges were being pursued against an adult in connection with the child's death, but the documents do not confirm whether charges were ultimately filed or what the outcome was.
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 medical examiner report provides a notable detail not addressed by preceding questions: the child was placed in a booster seat inside the bathtub when she drowned. The ME report states the child "was found unresponsive in a booster seat in a bathtub with her face fully submerged in water by her mother, who placed her in the booster seat and then left her unattended for approximately 10 minutes." Additionally, the ME report notes "Charges are currently pending," suggesting criminal proceedings were being considered. The preliminary report also notes the mother was only 19 years old at the time of the incident. There is also a geographic discrepancy worth noting: the incident occurred in Pinal County (Casa Grande), but the ME report is from Maricopa County, consistent with the ME report's description that the child "was then transported via air to another hospital for further care" where she ultimately died.
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