On the evening of September 13, 2022, 1-year-old Mallory Lassiter was killed in a single-vehicle accident while riding unrestrained in the back seat of her father Kolby Lassiter's pickup truck. Her 2-year-old sibling was also in the vehicle, sitting on the father's lap. The father lost control of the vehicle and all occupants were ejected. Mallory was pronounced dead at the scene from blunt impact to her head and neck, including skull fractures, brain laceration, and atlanto-occipital dislocation. The father had consumed five to six shots of whiskey earlier that afternoon, and his blood alcohol content was measured at approximately twice the legal limit. He was arrested on September 16, 2022, and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, DUI manslaughter, DUI with serious bodily injury, and DUI with property damage or personal injury.
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)?
The fatality report states the finding of "Inadequate Supervision – Verified" against the father. The report further details the inappropriate supervision: "the younger child sat unrestrained in the back seat and the older child sat on the father's lap" while the father was driving intoxicated with a blood alcohol content approximately twice the legal limit.
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?
The fatality report explicitly describes a motor vehicle crash: "the children and their father were involved in a vehicle accident." It further details that "the father lost control of the vehicle causing a single vehicle accident and all of the occupants were ejected." The news article also references the incident involving Kolby Lassiter driving with a BAC more than double the legal limit.
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?
The fatality report's family composition chart lists Kolby Lassiter as "Father" with a direct relationship to the deceased child, who shares his surname. The findings table identifies the father as the "Caregiver Responsible" for the child's death, and the report details how his drunk driving directly caused the fatal accident.
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 fatality report states: "He was subsequently arrested on September 16, 2022, and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, DUI with serious bodily injury, DUI manslaughter, and DUI with property damage or personal injury." The news article corroborates: "Kolby Lassiter, 24, was arrested Friday."
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 extensively documents substance use by both parents. Regarding the father: "he normally smoked marijuana several times per week and drank whiskey one to two times each week" and "he did consume roughly five to six shots of whiskey sometime between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the afternoon of the incident." His blood alcohol content was "approximately twice the legal limit." His drug screen "results were positive for marijuana and oxycodone." The findings include "Substance Misuse – Alcohol – Verified" against the father. Regarding the mother: "Her results were positive for marijuana and negative for all other substances, and she advised that she is an occasional marijuana user."
Notable Details
The fatality report provides notable details about the surviving sibling's serious injuries: "the sibling sustained serious injuries, to include multiple fractures and injuries to his kidney and liver, and he remained hospitalized for nearly one month prior to discharge from the hospital." The Child Protection Team "opined positive findings of neglect" for the sibling. Additionally, neither child was properly restrained: "the younger child sat unrestrained in the back seat and the older child sat on the father's lap," representing a clear child safety violation that directly contributed to the severity of the outcome.
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