On February 8, 2022, one-year-old Kaylee S. was found unresponsive by her mother, Ricki Thomas, at their home in Salem, Connecticut, and was pronounced dead at Backus Hospital. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death was acute intoxication due to fentanyl and xylazine, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. Kaylee's family had been under active DCF supervision since August 2021, when her father, Travis Schubel, was found to have left Kaylee and two siblings unattended in a vehicle while in possession of 20 bags of fentanyl. A DCF safety plan required the father not to be the sole caregiver or be unsupervised with the children, and prohibited substance use in the home. Despite ongoing documented concerns about the father's non-compliance—including a fentanyl-positive drug screen and presenting as under the influence during a virtual DCF visit in January 2022—DCF did not conduct in-person or unannounced visits in the two months preceding Kaylee's death, having shifted to virtual contacts due to COVID-19. Police found deplorable conditions in the home, including drug paraphernalia, needles, fentanyl bags accessible in an open dresser drawer near the child's sleeping area, and a used Narcan cartridge under her pack-n-play. Both parents were subsequently arrested and charged with manslaughter and other offenses.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The OCA report states: "baby Kaylee, 1 year old, died while under the care and supervision of her family. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined that Kaylee died from ingestion of fentanyl, a synthetic opiate, and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer." The WFSB article confirms: "The father of a child that died of acute fentanyl and Xylazine (animal sedative) intoxication was arrested."
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 OCA report states the family's case opened with DCF "due to reported concerns of physical neglect, when father was found to have left Kaylee and two other children (age 8 and 2) unattended in a vehicle in a public parking lot." The entire safety plan was premised on father not being left unsupervised with the children. Additionally, mother acknowledged father's ongoing drug use yet admitted she tried to "stay out of it as to not stress him out," and police found accessible drug paraphernalia and fentanyl throughout the home where the 1-year-old lived, indicating inadequate 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?
The WFSB article states: "Police observing where the child slept found a used Narcan cartridge underneath the pack-n-play. They also found many capped and uncapped needles, yellow glassine bags, small yellow bands, and a pink/white pill in capsule form." Additionally, "In the room near the child's pack-n-play, there were 38 white and yellow baggies with an unknown powder substance in a dresser drawer that was missing its front side; make it so the substance could have been accessed without pulling the drawer out." The child's sleeping area was surrounded by drug paraphernalia and accessible lethal substances, constituting an unsafe sleeping environment that contributed to the child's death by fentanyl ingestion.
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The WFSB article identifies the father as Travis Schubel, and the OCA report describes his central role: his fentanyl possession and use, his drug paraphernalia in the home, and his non-compliance with the DCF safety plan. He admitted the narcotics in the shared bedroom were his. He was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter, risk of injury to a child, and possession of a controlled substance.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The WFSB article identifies the mother as Ricki Thomas and states: "Thomas has also been arrested in connection to the case, she was taken into police custody back in November and charged with manslaughter, risk of injury to impairing the morals of a child, and illegal possession of a controlled substance." She was designated a safety plan monitor by DCF but acknowledged being aware of father's drug use and tried to "stay out of it," per the OCA report. The deplorable home conditions with accessible drugs exposed the child to lethal substances under her care.
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 OCA report states: "a prior report to DCF from 2020 alleging substance use and physical neglect of Kaylee was not 'attached' to the family's case and was never discussed with the family." Additionally, the August 2021 incident where the father left the children unattended in a vehicle while in possession of fentanyl opened a new investigation, which predates the February 2022 death. These represent a clear history of child protection reports prior to death.
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 WFSB article states Travis Schubel was arrested and "held in Norwich police custody on a $1,000,000 cash/surety bond." It also states "Thomas has also been arrested in connection to the case, she was taken into police custody back in November and charged with manslaughter, risk of injury to impairing the morals of a child, and illegal possession of a controlled substance." The WTNH article confirms Schubel was "charged with second-degree manslaughter, risk of injury to a child, possession of a controlled substance, and use of drug paraphernalia."
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?
The OCA report states that in August 2021, "father was found to have left Kaylee and two other children (age 8 and 2) unattended in a vehicle in a public parking lot. Upon response from the police, father was found to be in possession of 20 bags of fentanyl." This incident, which predates the February 2022 death, involved police response and the discovery of a large quantity of illegal drugs, strongly implying criminal charges (drug possession and child endangerment). While formal charges from this specific incident are not explicitly enumerated, the police involvement and nature of the offenses strongly suggest prior criminal history.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Extensive substance use by parents/caregivers is documented. The OCA report describes the father's ongoing fentanyl use, including a drug screen on January 25th that "was positive for fentanyl," and that he "presented to be under the influence" during a virtual visit. The WFSB article states Thomas "was aware of Travis Schubel's history of drug use and was taking methadone at the time." The OCA report also notes the mother told DCF "she thinks father has been using but tries to stay out of it." Police found extensive drug paraphernalia in the home.
Notable Details
The OCA report documents significant systemic and policy failures by DCF. Key details include: (1) DCF switched all family contacts to virtual due to COVID-19 concerns on January 5, 2022, with the last in-person visit on December 15, 2021—eight weeks before Kaylee's death. (2) Despite the father testing positive for fentanyl on January 25 and presenting as "under the influence" on January 26, DCF did not conduct an unannounced or in-person visit. (3) A prior 2020 DCF report alleging substance use and neglect of Kaylee was never attached to the family's current case. (4) No legal consultation was pursued despite ongoing non-compliance with the case plan. (5) DCF's public statement about the case omitted the "case practice concerns" and "improvement opportunities" identified in its internal review, stating instead that the family "received supports from DCF" and "were visible to Agency personnel." (6) DCF's quality assurance work on safety planning was delayed due to "managerial staff vacancies" and "resources available for both data analytics and visualizations." (7) The case occurred shortly after DCF exited class-action driven federal court oversight, raising questions about post-oversight monitoring and accountability. OCA concluded that there remains "no framework for routine public reporting by the agency" and that a transparent framework is critically needed.
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