On August 11, 2022, seven-month-old Payson Middleton drowned in a bathtub at the family home in Indian River County, Florida. The mother, Rachel Lubold, placed Payson and a 23-month-old sibling in the bathtub with approximately 6-8 inches of water, with Payson seated in a baby bath seat. The mother then went downstairs for approximately three minutes to retrieve a toy and clothes, leaving both children unattended. Upon returning, she found Payson submerged in the water and unresponsive. EMS responded and initiated resuscitation efforts, but the infant was pronounced dead at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Medical Center at 7:34 pm. At the hospital, the mother appeared heavily intoxicated—punching walls, yelling, throwing items, and drinking wine in the emergency room—and tested positive for methadone, benzodiazepines, and opiates.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
The fatality report explicitly states: "On 8/11/22, Payson drowned in the bathtub." and "When the mother returned, she found the infant submerged in the water and unresponsive."
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fatality report states: "the mother went downstairs, leaving the children unattended for approximately three minutes to retrieve a toy and clothes. When the mother returned, she found the infant submerged in the water and unresponsive." The mother left a 7-month-old infant and a 23-month-old toddler unattended in a bathtub with 6-8 inches of water, which is a clear case of inappropriate 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?
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?
The fatality report describes the biological mother, Rachel Lubold, as the person who placed the infant and toddler in the bathtub and then "went downstairs, leaving the children unattended for approximately three minutes." Her actions directly led to the child's drowning 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?
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?
The fatality report states: "The mother was observed to appear intoxicated by hospital staff and others." It further states: "The mother tested positive for methadone, benzodiazepines and opiates. The mother admitted to drinking alcohol but stated that she started drinking after the infant was found in the bathtub." Additionally, "Law enforcement had to intervene and remove the mother's cup of wine she was drinking in the emergency room."
Notable Details
The fatality report contains several notable details not fully captured by other questions. First, the infant was placed in a baby bath seat in the tub, which may have given the mother a false sense of security. Second, the mother claimed she "started drinking after the infant was found in the bathtub," yet she tested positive for methadone, benzodiazepines, and opiates—substances that are not rapidly ingested and suggest she was already under the influence of multiple substances at the time she left the children unattended. Third, the mother's extreme behavior at the hospital—"punching walls, yelling, pulling down hospital curtains, throwing items and slurring her speech" and drinking wine in the emergency room—required law enforcement intervention. Additionally, a significant portion of the report (including what appear to be sections about prior history and recommendations) was rendered unreadable due to OCR corruption, meaning potentially important contextual information may exist but could not be analyzed.
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