On March 2, 2023, four-year-old Kash Hodges drowned in a retention pond behind a Gainesville, Florida shopping plaza where his family lived in the back room of a pet grooming salon. While the parents were napping, the mother left to get food and did not lock the door; surveillance showed the child walking out the unlocked door and later falling into the pond, where he was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the hospital. The father, who admitted a long history of addiction to depressants and tested positive for methamphetamine, appeared impaired, and methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia were found in the living area. The Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death drowning and the manner an accident; manslaughter complaints filed against both parents on November 3, 2023 were dismissed by the State Attorney's Office on January 4, 2024.
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 states the child "was found unresponsive in a retention pond" and the Medical Examiner "determined the cause of death as drowning." The news article describes the child "running toward the retention pond and falling into the pond."
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 parents were napping and the mother left to get food while the father and child slept; the child later got out and was found in a retention pond. The news article notes surveillance "show the child walking out of the same unlocked door, 15 minutes later" and the investigators concluded "The negligence of both [Hodges] and [Figueroa] led to the death of [the child]." DCF closed with findings related to inadequate 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?
The biological father was present and responsible for the child. The fatality report states the father and child were sleeping when the mother left, the father admitted addiction and was "under the influence," and tested positive for methamphetamines. Investigators concluded the negligence of both parents led to the death.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The biological mother left and reportedly did not lock the door. The news article states "Figueroa left the business through the front door and reportedly did not lock the door behind her," and investigators concluded "The negligence of both [Hodges] and [Figueroa] led to the death of [the child]."
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)?
The fatality report states "The family has been involved in four prior and investigations between 2020 and 2022," detailing findings of household violence threatens child, inadequate supervision, and the mother's drug use leading to in-home non-judicial case management.
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 "On November 3, 2023, sworn complaints for manslaughter were filed for both the mother and the father," though it adds "On January 4, 2024, the State Attorney's Office dismissed all charges." The news article confirms "Both parents have been charged via sworn complaint with negligent manslaughter of a child."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report references prior "not substantiated findings of household violence threatens child" investigations and states "The father completed a domestic violence assessment and it recommended counseling for the father."
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Both documents state the family was living in the back room of a pet grooming salon. The fatality report says "the family was living in the back room of a pet grooming salon, which was located in a business plaza," and the news article notes they "lived with Kash in the back room of a pet grooming salon." This non-residential living arrangement reflects unstable/temporary housing.
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report notes the mother's mental health: "The mother stated she had anxiety and instead of taking prescribed medication, she chose to use marijuana instead" and "The mother was supposed to have a mental health assessment, but did not complete this."
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The news article describes separate criminal allegations against the mother: "Two sworn complaints were filed against Figueroa in May after the owner... alleged that Figueroa had obtained her own card reader and had swiped a client's credit card and kept the money" and that she "allegedly stole $874 in merchandise and equipment." These theft allegations are separate from the manslaughter charges arising from the death, though their timing relative to the death is unclear.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Both documents reference parental substance use. The fatality report states "The father admitted to being addicted to depressants since he was a teenager" and tested "positive for methamphetamines," and the mother had a 2020 investigation for "testing positive for methamphetamine, amphetamine, and THC."
Notable Details
Notable systemic/legal details: The parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the pet grooming business owner and shopping plaza, alleging a lack of automatic door locks and a fence around the pond "directly and proximately" caused the drowning, even as they themselves were charged with manslaughter (news article). The State Attorney's Office "dismissed all charges" on January 4, 2024 (fatality report). Also notable is a prior CPS failure: the fatality report states services were closed "sighting the child as safe because the mother tested negative on all drug screens, even though she did not complete any services."
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