On September 1, 2022, Christopher Nicholas DeAthos, 28, of Blissfield, Michigan, shook his 2-month-old son when the baby would not stop crying, according to his own statements to police. Blissfield Police Chief Dale Greenleaf was the first responder and administered CPR until paramedics arrived and transported the child to ProMedica Toledo Hospital, where doctors determined the child's injuries were consistent with shaken baby syndrome and that he had limited brain function from the injuries and not breathing for more than six minutes. DeAthos told police he attempted CPR but did not call 911, and no one else was home at the time. The child died on September 8, 2022. DeAthos was initially charged with child abuse and later charged with open murder, and is being held on $10.5 million bond while awaiting a psychiatric evaluation and competency hearing.
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 news article states that "DeAthos told police he shook the baby when he wouldn't stop crying" and that "the child's injuries were consistent with having been shaken." Shaking a baby constitutes 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?
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?
The news article explicitly describes shaken baby trauma: "a doctor at ProMedica Toledo Hospital the child's injuries were consistent with having been shaken and DeAthos told police he shook the baby when he wouldn't stop crying." The doctor also noted "limited brain function due to the injuries and not breathing for more than six minutes."
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 news article identifies the victim as DeAthos's "2-month-old son," making DeAthos the biological father. DeAthos is the one who shook the baby and is charged with open murder and first-degree child abuse.
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)?
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 news article states: "Christopher Nicholas DeAthos, 28, was arrested on a child abuse charge after the incident Sept. 1 at the man's home. A charge of open murder was added after the boy's death on Sept. 8." He is held on "$10,500,000 in bonds on the open murder and first-degree child abuse charges."
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?
The news article states: "Lenawee County District Judge Laura J. Schaedler on Sept. 13 granted a request for a psychiatric evaluation of DeAthos. She scheduled a competency hearing for Jan. 13." The court ordered a psychiatric evaluation and competency hearing, which directly references the mental health of the parent/caregiver.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The news article contains several notable details: DeAthos is being held on an exceptionally high bond of $10,500,000. Additionally, DeAthos admitted to police that he "tried to do CPR but did not call 911," and there was no one else home to corroborate this claim. The article also notes that the charge is "open murder," which "allows a jury to choose the degree of murder, should the case go to trial." A psychiatric evaluation was ordered with a competency hearing scheduled months later, as "it can take several weeks for the evaluation to be conducted and a report submitted to the court by the Michigan Center for Forensic Psychiatry."
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