On the evening of February 20, 2024, 3-year-old David Jacques Hernandez was found with a fatal incised wound to his neck at a home in Lancaster, California. According to reports citing unnamed sources, the boy was found in a bathtub with his throat cut; his body was discovered by a family friend who went to the home at the behest of a relative. Rena Naulls, 39, the live-in boyfriend of the child's mother, was also found at the home suffering from a self-inflicted injury in an apparent suicide attempt and was identified as a person of interest. The child was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, and the manner of death was ruled homicide due to an incised wound of the neck. Three other children in the home (ages 9, 11, and 14) were unharmed and placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
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 medical examiner report lists the cause of death as "INCISED WOUND OF THE NECK" and the manner as "HOMICIDE." The NBC article states the child's "neck was slashed" and, citing the LA Times, that "the boy was found in a bathtub with his throat cut." The ABC7 article reports the child "sustained a laceration to his neck." These details clearly indicate an 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?
Both news articles report that after the child was found with a fatal laceration, Rena Naulls was found at the home suffering from a "medical emergency" after he tried "to take his own life." The ABC7 article states Naulls "tried 'to take his own life'" and the NBC article confirms the same. While the suicide attempt was not completed (Naulls survived and is in stable condition), the pattern of killing the child and then attempting suicide constitutes an attempted 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?
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)?
Both news articles identify Rena Naulls, 39, as "the live-in boyfriend of the child's mother" and state he "has been identified as a person of interest in this matter." The NBC article further reports the biological father's statement: "What did he do for this psycho, monster, whoever, did that to my baby?" Naulls was found at the home with a self-inflicted injury after the child was found with a fatal laceration to the neck.
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?
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?
Both news articles report that Rena Naulls, the person of interest (mother's live-in boyfriend), tried "to take his own life" at the home. The ABC7 article states he "was at the home and taken to a hospital for a medical emergency" after authorities said he tried "to take his own life." A suicide attempt is a significant indicator of mental health crisis, implying mental health issues for this caregiver.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the sources. The NBC article, citing the LA Times, reports that "the boy was found in a bathtub with his throat cut" and that "the body was found by a family friend who went to the home at the behest of one of the boy's relatives" — suggesting the mother may not have been the one to discover the child or call for help. Additionally, L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, per the ABC7 article, discussed systemic issues with social worker staffing in the Antelope Valley, stating she's worked "to bolster the number of social workers up in the Antelope Valley, stop the hemorrhaging as it relates to transfers out." This suggests recognized systemic staffing deficiencies in child protective services in the region. Also, three other children (ages 9, 11, and 14 per the NBC article) were in the home, all unharmed, and placed with DCFS.
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