On March 5, 2024, 22-month-old Ezekiel Cotto-Saintfleur was left in the care of his mother's boyfriend, Bobby Curry Jr. (age 20), while his mother was at work in Lakeland, Florida. Curry, who had been in a relationship with the mother for four months and had moved in only two weeks prior, reportedly became overwhelmed while caring for the toddler. He inflicted blunt force trauma to the child's head; the medical examiner ruled the cause of death as blunt force trauma and the manner as homicide. Curry initially told investigators that a dog in the home knocked the child into the bathtub, but this account was contradicted by physical evidence showing injuries mainly to the front of the child's head. Approximately two to two-and-a-half hours passed between the first signs of the child's distress and when Curry called 911, during which time he exchanged over 60 Instagram messages with the child's mother. The child was transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center and then to Tampa General Hospital, where he died on March 8, 2024. Curry was arrested on March 15, 2024, and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
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)
The fatality report states the child died "after suffering apparent abusive head trauma on March 5, 2024." The Miami Herald article reports that the police chief "believes Curry 'reached a breaking point' and hit or pushed the child." The cause of death was determined to be "blunt force trauma" with the manner ruled homicide by the medical examiner (per the Miami Herald and WTSP articles). These all describe inflicted injury.
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?
The fatality report explicitly states the child "passed away on March 8, 2024, after suffering apparent abusive head trauma on March 5, 2024." This is a direct and unambiguous reference to 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)?
Bobby Curry Jr. is identified in the fatality report as the "Mother's Paramour" and in all news articles as the mother's boyfriend. He was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse for the child's death. The Miami Herald states: "Bobby Curry Jr., 20, faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse." The fatality report lists Bobby Curry as 20 years old and as the "Mother's Paramour."
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?
Multiple news articles confirm that Bobby Curry Jr. was arrested and charged. The Miami Herald states: "Bobby Curry Jr., 20, faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse, Lakeland Police Department Chief Sam Taylor announced Monday, March 18." The WTSP article adds: "Bobby Curry Jr., 20, is being held without bond for first-degree murder and child abuse." The Bay News 9 article notes: "On March 15, authorities arrested Curry on the two charges."
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?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the documents that are not addressed by the preceding questions. First, upon hospital arrival, the fatality report notes the child "was found to have a recent brain bleed as well as an older brain bleed that was at least eight hours old," which may suggest a prior instance of head trauma earlier the same day. Second, there was a significant delay of approximately two to two-and-a-half hours between the first signs of distress and the 911 call. The Miami Herald reports that during this time, Curry and the mother exchanged 67 Instagram messages, including Curry "asking her in an Instagram message is it possible for a child to go into cardiac arrest." Third, the Bay News 9 article reports a critical evidentiary inconsistency: "Curry's story was inconsistent with Cotto-Saintfleur's injuries, which occurred mainly to the front of his head" while Curry claimed the child fell backward and hit the back of his head. Fourth, the relationship between Curry and the mother was only four months old, and Curry had been living in the home for only approximately two weeks, highlighting the brief and unstable caregiving arrangement. Finally, the police chief noted there were two dogs and two ducks inside the home, contributing to what he described as an overwhelming environment for the inexperienced caregiver.
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