On June 16, 2022, Twyla Schiebel, 31, of Des Moines, Iowa, was bathing her 9-month-old son and left him in a bathtub seat that did not have a safety belt to go read a book to her 9-year-old son. When she returned to the bathroom, the infant had gotten out of the seat and was lying on his back with his face submerged under the bathwater. Schiebel called 911 and the baby was transported to Blank Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death was drowning. Schiebel was arrested approximately 3.5 months later and charged with felony child endangerment resulting in death, as well as a misdemeanor for providing a false name (her sister's name) to police during her arrest.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
All three sources explicitly describe a drowning incident. The Des Moines Register states "An autopsy confirmed the infant died from drowning." The CBS News article says "A Des Moines woman was arrested Friday on a charge of child endangerment leading to death in the June drowning of her 9-month-old son." The Siouxland Proud article states "An autopsy determined the cause of death was drowning."
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
All three sources describe the mother leaving the 9-month-old unattended in a bathtub to go read a book to her other son. The Des Moines Register states that Schiebel "left the infant in the bathtub in an unsecured seat to go read her 9-year-old son a book." The CBS News article states she "left the infant in a seat without a safety belt in a bathtub on June 16 and left the bathroom to read a book to her other son." The Siouxland Proud article confirms she "left him in a seat in the tub, that did not have a safety belt, and left the room to read a book to her other son." This is a clear case of inappropriate/inadequate supervision leading to the child's drowning.
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?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
All three sources identify Twyla Schiebel as the child's mother. The Des Moines Register states "A Des Moines mother has been charged in the drowning death of her 9-month-old child." The Siouxland Proud article confirms "A Des Moines mother has been arrested in the death of her nine-month-old son." She was the caregiver who left the infant unattended in the bathtub, directly causing the circumstances that led to the child's 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?
All three sources confirm that Twyla Schiebel was arrested and charged with child endangerment resulting in death. The Des Moines Register states "Schiebel faces a felony charge of child endangerment resulting in death." The CBS News article reports "A Des Moines woman was arrested Friday on a charge of child endangerment leading to death." The Siouxland Proud article states she "was booked into the Polk County Jail early Friday morning on a charge of child endangerment-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?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Two notable details emerge from the sources. First, there was an approximately 3.5-month delay between the incident on June 16 and Schiebel's arrest in late September 2022, with the CBS News article noting the charge was "filed Monday" before the Friday arrest. Second, the Siouxland Proud article reports that "Schiebel tried to avoid arrest by giving an officer her sister's name. She has been charged with making a false report to a public entity on that offense." The Des Moines Register corroborates this with a "misdemeanor charge for giving a false name to police when she was arrested."
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