On June 10, 2024, 6-week-old Edrick Davis was left in the care of his father, Edrick Lamar Davis, while his mother took a shower at their Melbourne, Florida home. The father later entered the bathroom as well, leaving the infant unattended. When the parents emerged, the infant was found unresponsive with milk coming from his nose. He was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead at 11:50 a.m. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, ruled a homicide, with findings including subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhages, brain edema and herniation, bilateral optic nerve sheath hemorrhages, multiple acute rib and clavicle fractures, a fractured left tibia, and healing bilateral rib fractures consistent with battered baby syndrome indicating prior abuse. The father initially denied involvement but ultimately confessed across three police interviews to forcefully kneeing the infant in the back of the head at least twice and slamming the baby onto his knee because the infant's crying caused him stress. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder of a child 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)?
The fatality report documents verified findings by the Department of Children and Families including "Inadequate Supervision as to Edrick, with the father as the caregiver responsible." The report also describes that the mother went to shower and the father subsequently also entered the bathroom, leaving the 6-week-old unattended.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The fox35 news article states that the father "admitted to slamming and striking his baby, ultimately causing his death." It further details: "Davis told detectives he forcefully struck the back of his baby's head with his knee at least two times. He said the baby's fussiness and crying caused him to become stressed and slam the infant downward onto his left knee." The fatality report states the cause of death was "Multiple Blunt Force Injuries" and the manner of death was "Homicide," with the medical examiner concluding "The injuries were inflicted by another person."
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?
While the term "abusive head trauma" is not explicitly used, the fatality report documents classic findings consistent with it: "Deep scalp, subgaleal, subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhages of the head," "Brain edema and brain herniation," and "Hemorrhage of bilateral optic nerve sheaths." The fox35 news article confirms the father admitted to forcefully striking the back of the baby's head with his knee at least two times. These findings and circumstances are hallmarks of abusive head trauma.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
The fatality report states: "From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. the mother took Edrick into the master bedroom and laid him down on the bed, propped up on a pillow with a small blanket on top of him." For a 6-week-old infant, placement on an adult bed propped on a pillow with a blanket is an unsafe sleeping environment per safe sleep guidelines.
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The fatality report identifies Edrick Davis (25 years old) as the "Father" and states he "was arrested and charged with First-Degree Murder of a Child and Aggravated Child Abuse in the death of his son." The fox35 news article confirms "Davis admitted responsibility for the baby's death" and that he "forcefully struck the back of his baby's head with his knee at least two times."
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: "on June 20, 2024, Edrick Davis (the father) was arrested and charged with First-Degree Murder of a Child and Aggravated Child Abuse in the death of his son." The fox35 news article confirms: "Edrick Lamar Davis was arrested for first-degree felony murder of a child and aggravated child abuse."
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 states: "The parents each submitted to a random drug screen and were both positive for THC."
Notable Details
The fatality report contains a notable detail about the mother's ongoing relationship with the incarcerated father: "Since the father's arrest, the mother has continued to be in contact with him in jail. The mother may be pregnant. The mother and father are talking about getting married while the father remains incarcerated." This is significant for researchers as it suggests a potential ongoing risk factor if the mother bears another child while maintaining a relationship with the father who was charged with murdering their infant. Additionally, the news articles reveal the father changed his story across three separate police interviews, initially claiming he found the baby unresponsive, then admitting to "accidentally" striking the baby's head on a door frame, before finally confessing to forcefully kneeing the infant's head at least twice out of stress from the baby's crying.
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