Avery Elaine Eskam
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CANDID ID: CO_22_1238
AGE
6   years
STATE
Colorado
DATE OF DEATH
5/8/2022
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On May 8, 2022 (Mother's Day), 3-year-old Avery Elaine Eskam was fatally shot at her family's home in Frederick, Colorado, at approximately 10:45 a.m. According to a police report, the child was in a master bedroom closet — where several loaded guns were stored unsecured — when a young sibling obtained one of the firearms and accidentally shot her. Her mother, Elaine Eskam, heard a pop and initially thought a chair had fallen over before discovering Avery had been shot. The child was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead. Both parents — Brett Eskam, an Adams County sheriff's sergeant, and Elaine Eskam — were charged with six counts each of unlawful storage of a firearm. Brett Eskam later pleaded guilty to a single count and was sentenced to six months of unsupervised probation.
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?

All three documents describe the death of Avery Elaine Eskam as the result of an accidental shooting. The Denver Post article states: "a young sibling in the home got ahold of a gun and accidentally shot the 3-year-old." The 9News article notes "several loaded guns were found in the closet and other areas of the master bedroom." The parents were charged with unlawful storage of a firearm.

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

The 9News article states: "the child was in a master bedroom closet when her mother heard a pop and initially thought a chair had fallen over. When she came into the bedroom she realized Avery had been shot." This indicates the children were in the master bedroom with unsecured loaded firearms without direct adult supervision. The mother was not in the room and only learned of the incident upon hearing a sound, suggesting inadequate supervision of young children in an area with accessible loaded guns.

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?

Brett Eskam is identified as the father. The Denver Post article states: "The parents of a 3-year-old girl accidentally shot to death by a sibling in Frederick... Brett Eskam, an Adams County sheriff's sergeant, and his wife Elaine Eskam each have been charged with six counts of unlawful storage of a firearm." He is identified as a parent and the child shares his surname (Avery Elaine Eskam), indicating he is the biological father. His negligent firearm storage contributed to the child's death.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

Elaine Eskam is identified as the mother. The Denver Post article refers to both Brett and Elaine Eskam as "the parents" who were charged. The 9News article states "her mother heard a pop and initially thought a chair had fallen over. When she came into the bedroom she realized Avery had been shot." Elaine Eskam was also charged with unlawful storage of a firearm, and was present at the home during the incident.

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?

The Denver Post article explicitly states: "Investigators discovered that a young sibling in the home got ahold of a gun and accidentally shot the 3-year-old." A sibling was directly involved in firing the gun that killed Avery.

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?

Both parents were charged. The Denver Post states: "Brett Eskam, an Adams County sheriff's sergeant, and his wife Elaine Eskam each have been charged with six counts of unlawful storage of a firearm, a class 2 misdemeanor." The 9News article confirms Brett Eskam pleaded guilty to a single count and "was immediately sentenced to six months of unsupervised probation," while "Charges are still pending against Elaine Eskam."

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

Several notable details emerge from the text. First, the father Brett Eskam was an Adams County sheriff's sergeant/deputy — a law enforcement officer — which makes the negligent firearm storage particularly notable. The Denver Post article states he "has been placed on leave." Second, the 9News article reveals that "several loaded guns were found in the closet and other areas of the master bedroom," indicating multiple unsecured firearms. Third, despite the death of a child, Brett Eskam's sentence was only "six months of unsupervised probation" after pleading guilty to a single count, with the other five counts dismissed. Fourth, this case occurred in the context of Colorado's recently passed safe storage law, making it one of the early test cases of that legislation.

Lives Cut Short