Reesi Sue Benson was born on April 25, 2023, via emergency C-section at approximately 34 weeks gestation after her mother, Christin Matheny, experienced eclamptic seizures. The mother had been diagnosed with preeclampsia two days earlier but had checked herself out of Winter Haven Hospital against medical advice. Both mother and baby tested positive for amphetamines, and the baby also tested positive for opiates; the mother admitted to using methamphetamine for the preceding four years. The infant was born limp with respiratory distress and possible hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, was intubated and transferred to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital NICU on a ventilator. Reesi died on May 3, 2023, at 8 days old. The cause of death was respiratory failure due to hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy caused by maternal eclampsia/seizures, and the manner of death was ruled natural. The DCF investigation verified findings of death and substance-exposed newborn with the mother as the caregiver responsible.
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)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The fatality report states: "the mother was seen at Winter Haven Hospital for high blood pressure and checked herself out Against Medical Advice (AMA). The mother was diagnosed with preeclampsia." It further states: "The infant experienced medical complications resulting from a combination of the prenatal drug exposure and the mother's untreated medical conditions after she left the hospital AMA." While the term "medical neglect" is not used explicitly, the mother's departure from the hospital AMA while pregnant with a serious condition (preeclampsia) directly contributed to the infant's fatal medical complications, which implies a form 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)?
The fatality report explicitly states: "The mother and baby both tested positive for Amphetamines and the baby was also positive for Opiates. The mother had no known prescriptions." Additionally, the DCF investigation closed with "Verified Findings of Death and Substance Exposed Newborn as to Reesi Sue Benson." The report also notes "The infant experienced medical complications resulting from a combination of the prenatal drug exposure and the mother's untreated medical conditions."
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 states the DCF investigation closed with "Verified Findings of Death and Substance Exposed Newborn as to Reesi Sue Benson, with Christin Matheny as the caregiver responsible." The mother's methamphetamine use during pregnancy and her departure from the hospital AMA while diagnosed with preeclampsia were directly linked to the infant's fatal medical complications.
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?
The fatality report states the mother "gave birth to a baby girl via emergency C-section at approximately 34 weeks gestation." Birth at 34 weeks is considered premature (normal full-term gestation is 37-42 weeks).
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?
The fatality report states: "He indicated the mother went off of her medications for anxiety, depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder a year ago." This explicitly references the mother's mental health conditions and her discontinuation of psychiatric medications.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report explicitly documents the mother's substance use: "The mother indicated Yes to her using methamphetamine(s) (meth) while she was pregnant" and "she had been using Meth for the last four years." Both the mother and baby tested positive for Amphetamines, and the baby also tested positive for Opiates. The prospective father "declined to drug screen."
Notable Details
The fatality report contains several notable details not fully addressed by preceding questions. The manner of death was ruled "Natural" despite the DCF investigation verifying findings of Death and Substance Exposed Newborn with the mother as the caregiver responsible, highlighting a tension between medical and child welfare classifications. David Benson is listed as "Prospective Father" rather than confirmed biological father, indicating paternity was not established. Additionally, the report notes the father "was removed from the hospital at one point due to his behaviors" and "declined to drug screen," suggesting potential concerns about the father that were not fully explored. The mother had also discontinued psychiatric medications (for anxiety, depression, and PTSD) a year prior to the incident, and the family had no prior child protection history or open services.
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