On September 30, 2022, five-year-old Bryson Pulgarin became unresponsive while in the care of his mother's paramour, Henry Stegman, after his mother left for work. Stegman called 911 and the child was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:41 p.m. Hospital staff documented extensive injuries including linear bruising on his groin, bruising up and down his spine, bruising on his head and chest, and bruising covering both buttocks and his entire back from lower back to neck. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as blunt force abdominal trauma assault and the manner of death as homicide. Multiple inconsistent histories were provided about the circumstances. The DCF investigation resulted in verified findings of death, physical injury, internal injuries, and inadequate supervision against Stegman. The criminal investigation was closed after Stegman committed a murder-suicide on November 12, 2022, killing the biological father of the older children and the father's paramour before killing himself.
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?
The fatality report describes a subsequent firearm incident: "he somehow obtained his firearm. The paramour then went to the father of the older children's home. The paramour then shot and killed the other father as well as his (the other father's) paramour... The mother's paramour then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide." While this incident did not directly cause the child's death, a firearm incident involving the perpetrator is explicitly described.
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fatality report includes "Verified Findings of Death, Physical Injury, Internal Injuries, and Inadequate Supervision as to Bryson Pulgarin, with Henry Stegman as the caregiver responsible." Inadequate supervision is explicitly cited as a verified finding.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The fatality report states the cause of death was "Blunt Force Abdominal Trauma Assault" with a manner of death ruled "Homicide." The hospital documented extensive injuries including bruising in linear fashion on the groin, bruising up and down his spine, bruising on the head "linear above his right eyebrow," bruising on the chest, and bruising on "both buttocks and his whole back from lower back up to his neck." The verified DCF findings include "Physical Injury" and "Internal Injuries" with Henry Stegman as the caregiver responsible.
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?
The fatality report explicitly describes a murder-suicide event: "The paramour then shot and killed the other father as well as his (the other father's) paramour, who was transported to the hospital in critical condition. The mother's paramour then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide." This occurred on November 12, 2022, after the child's death.
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?
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)?
The fatality report identifies Henry Stegman as the "Mother's Paramour" in the family composition chart and states: "Verified Findings of Death, Physical Injury, Internal Injuries, and Inadequate Supervision as to Bryson Pulgarin, with Henry Stegman as the caregiver responsible." The child was in the paramour's care when he became unresponsive, and the cause of death was ruled homicide by blunt force abdominal trauma assault.
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?
The fatality report describes that on November 12, 2022, "the mother and paramour got into an argument. The paramour left and went to his grandfather's home, and he somehow obtained his firearm. The paramour then went to the father of the older children's home. The paramour then shot and killed the other father as well as his (the other father's) paramour." The paramour then committed suicide. The paramour killing the mother's ex-partner (the father of the older children) following a domestic argument, combined with the paramour's prior fatal assault on the child, strongly implies domestic violence dynamics, even though the term is not explicitly used.
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 are present. First, the fatality report states that "multiple histories were provided as to the circumstances," indicating inconsistent accounts from the family about how the child was injured. Second, the child had been seen by his primary care physician for "bruising easily and red dots on his face" with "elevated liver enzymes" and was referred to specialists with an appointment set for November 1st — which was after the child's September 30 death. This medical history may have served as a potential cover story for abuse-related injuries. Third, the criminal investigation by the Highlands County Sheriff's Office was closed without charges against anyone after the mother's paramour, Henry Stegman, committed a murder-suicide on November 12, 2022, in which he shot and killed the biological father of the older children and the father's paramour before turning the gun on himself. This effectively precluded any criminal prosecution for the child's homicide.
These fields were populated by an AI model and may contain inaccuracies. Review the links and PDFs provided for verification before citing. Contact [email protected] to report any inaccuracies where corrections are needed.