On January 5, 2022, 3-year-old Tyler Cleverly was found in a backyard pool at a vacant house near 21st Avenue and Bell Road in Phoenix, Arizona. It is believed the toddler crossed the alley behind his home and got through a broken gate to reach the pool. Bystanders performed CPR on the child, who had no heartbeat and was not breathing, until firefighters arrived and continued life-saving measures. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced deceased. The Department of Child Safety had received four prior reports of neglect regarding the family in March, April, July, and October of 2021, all of which were unsubstantiated. After the drowning, a dependency petition was filed, and the Maricopa County Superior Court ruled in May 2022 that parents Lori and Nathaniel Cleverly had neglected Tyler and his siblings. The surviving siblings were placed with relatives.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
The fatality report explicitly states: "On January 5, 2022, the Department of Child Safety received a report regarding the drowning of 3-year-old male, Tyler Cleverly." The 12news article confirms: "A 3-year-old boy has died after being pulled from a backyard pool in Phoenix Wednesday afternoon."
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The news article from azfamily states: "It's believed the toddler crossed the alley behind his home and got through a broken gate. The house directly behind his, with the pool, was vacant at the time." The neighbor also said: "They never heeded the advice that was given. It wasn't politely given. It was damn it you watch your kids. One of them is going to die." Additionally, the fatality report states that "the court ruled the parents, Lori and Nathaniel Cleverly, neglected Tyler Cleverly and his siblings." The child wandered unsupervised from his home to a vacant house's backyard pool and drowned, which is a textbook case of inappropriate supervision.
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?
The fatality report identifies the child's parents as "Lori and Nathaniel Cleverly" and states "the court ruled the parents, Lori and Nathaniel Cleverly, neglected Tyler Cleverly and his siblings." Nathaniel Cleverly is identified as Tyler's father. While the report uses the term "parents" rather than explicitly stating "biological father," the shared surname and consistent identification as the child's parent strongly imply he is the biological father. The court found his neglect contributed to the circumstances of the child's death.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report identifies Lori Cleverly as the child's parent (mother), and the court ruled she neglected Tyler and his siblings. The azfamily news article corroborates: "Arizona's Family did speak with the child's mother. She said she did not want to respond to DCS's decision because the agency still has oversight of her other children. She admits neglect on her part." Her neglect was directly involved in the circumstances of the child's 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)?
The fatality report details four prior DCS reports: "On March 11, 2021, a report was received alleging neglect to a child by their parents, Lori and Nathaniel Cleverly." Additional reports were received on April 11, 2021, July 29, 2021, and October 28, 2021, all alleging neglect to Tyler and/or his siblings. All were unsubstantiated. The azfamily article confirms: "the agency was called to a Phoenix home four times before a 3-year-old boy drowned in January."
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
There are notable systemic issues in this case. The fatality report documents four prior DCS reports of neglect (March, April, July, and October 2021), all of which were unsubstantiated. The azfamily article adds context: "Neighbors made reports claiming the kids were wandering the street, left inside a vehicle, or being locked in their rooms. All allegations were unfounded." A neighbor explicitly warned the parents: "They never heeded the advice that was given. It wasn't politely given. It was damn it you watch your kids. One of them is going to die." The fact that four separate reports were made and found unsubstantiated in the nine months before the child's drowning death raises significant questions about the adequacy of prior DCS investigations. Additionally, the drowning occurred in a vacant house's pool that the child accessed through a broken gate after crossing an alley, and the mother "admits neglect on her part but also blames the homeowner of the vacant house because the gate was broken," raising questions about property owner liability for unsecured pool access.
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