Two-year-old Ezekiel Rivera was found unresponsive and not breathing at his father Raul Rivera's home on Sentido Drive in East Bakersfield, California on the night of June 5, 2023. First responders were unable to resuscitate him. Fentanyl was found in his system, and his mother alleged the death was a fentanyl overdose. Methamphetamine pipes and multiple used Narcan packages were discovered in the father's home. The father was arrested and charged with murder and child cruelty. The child's mother, Soluna Lora, who lived separately, filed a wrongful death claim against the Kern County Sheriff's Office, alleging that deputies had been previously informed of drugs in the father's home but failed to remove Ezekiel from his custody.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Multiple documents describe the child's death as a fentanyl overdose. Document 2 (kget.com murder charge) states: "Charges of murder and child cruelty have been filed against the father of a 2-year-old boy who died from what the mother alleges was a fentanyl overdose" and "fentanyl was found in Ezekiel's system." Document 3 (kget.com vigil) states: "The dispatch call came through as a toddler might have been overdosing on drugs."
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)?
The child died from fentanyl exposure while in his father's home. Document 2 (kget.com murder charge) states the mother alleged "Deputies placed Ezekiel and other children 'in direct harm' by allowing them to stay with Rivera despite a report she made of possible drugs in the home." Additionally, "two methamphetamine pipes, four empty packages of the overdose-reversing drug Narcan and an empty Narcan nasal applicator were found in Rivera's home." The presence of dangerous drugs accessible to a 2-year-old implies inappropriate supervision by the father.
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?
Document 2 (kget.com murder charge) states: "Charges of murder and child cruelty have been filed against the father of a 2-year-old boy who died from what the mother alleges was a fentanyl overdose. Raul Rivera is due in court Friday for arraignment." The child died at the father's home, and the father was arrested and charged with murder.
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)?
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)?
Document 2 (kget.com murder charge) states the mother claimed that "Deputies placed Ezekiel and other children 'in direct harm' by allowing them to stay with Rivera despite a report she made of possible drugs in the home." This indicates the mother had previously reported concerns about drugs in the father's home to law enforcement before the child's death, constituting a prior report about child safety.
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?
Document 2 (kget.com murder charge) states: "Charges of murder and child cruelty have been filed against the father of a 2-year-old boy... Raul Rivera is due in court Friday for arraignment. He was arrested Wednesday and is being held on $1 million bail."
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?
Document 2 (kget.com murder charge) states: "two methamphetamine pipes, four empty packages of the overdose-reversing drug Narcan and an empty Narcan nasal applicator were found in Rivera's home." The presence of methamphetamine pipes and multiple used Narcan packages in the father's home is strong evidence of substance use by the caregiver.
Notable Details
There are significant systemic issues described in the text. Document 2 (kget.com murder charge) and Document 4 (turnto23.com wrongful death claim) describe a wrongful death claim filed by the mother, Soluna Lora, against the Kern County Sheriff's Office. The claim alleges that deputies failed to remove Ezekiel from his father's custody after the mother reported drugs in the father's home. Document 2 states: "Deputies placed Ezekiel and other children 'in direct harm' by allowing them to stay with Rivera despite a report she made of possible drugs in the home." Additionally, the claim notes "two methamphetamine pipes, four empty packages of the overdose-reversing drug Narcan and an empty Narcan nasal applicator were found in Rivera's home." This highlights a significant potential law enforcement policy failure where deputies were alerted to a dangerous environment but did not act to protect the child.
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