Peyton Rice
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CANDID ID: ID_22_211
AGE
Infant
STATE
Idaho
DATE OF DEATH
11/25/2022
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
A 2-month-old baby boy in Twin Falls, Idaho, died after being shaken by his mother's boyfriend, Logan Danial Penner (age 18), on November 25. The mother had left the baby in Penner's care while she was doing laundry. Penner initially told police he gave the baby a bottle and it started making gasping noises, but after a doctor at St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center identified serious head trauma, Penner admitted he shook the baby and its head hit the edge of its crib. Penner told police he "snapped" because the baby was crying. First responders had been called to the Twin Falls apartment after a report that the baby was not breathing and blood was coming from its nose. The infant was transferred to St. Luke's Boise Medical Center but ultimately died. Penner was charged with felony aggravated battery and held on a $250,000 bond, and the prosecuting attorney was reviewing whether to amend the charge following the infant's death.
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 Idaho State Journal article states that "Penner admitted he shook the baby and its head hit the edge of its crib" and that the baby "suffered head trauma last week after being shaken by the mother's boyfriend." This constitutes 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 Idaho State Journal article explicitly describes shaken baby / abusive head trauma: "a 2-month-old baby who suffered head trauma last week after being shaken by the mother's boyfriend" and "After a doctor at St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center notified police that the baby had serious head trauma, Penner admitted he shook the baby and its head hit the edge of its crib."

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)?

The Idaho State Journal article identifies the perpetrator as "the mother's boyfriend" — Logan Danial Penner, 18, who "admitted he shook the baby and its head hit the edge of its crib."

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 Idaho State Journal article states: "Logan Danial Penner, 18, was charged with felony aggravated battery after the Nov. 25 incident." It also notes that the prosecuting attorney was "reviewing whether the charge should be amended" following the child's death. Penner "is being held on a $250,000 bond."

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?

The Idaho State Journal article states: "Court records also indicate he was arraigned Nov. 21 in Owyhee County on a misdemeanor drug paraphernalia charge." This arraignment on Nov. 21 predates the Nov. 25 incident that led to the child's death, making it a prior criminal charge separate from the fatal incident.

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The Idaho State Journal article states that "Court records also indicate he was arraigned Nov. 21 in Owyhee County on a misdemeanor drug paraphernalia charge." A drug paraphernalia charge implies substance use by the caregiver (Penner was caring for the child at the time of the fatal incident).

Notable Details

The Idaho State Journal article notes that Twin Falls Prosecuting Attorney Grant Loebs was "reviewing whether the charge should be amended" following news of the infant's death. At the time of reporting, Penner had only been charged with felony aggravated battery rather than a homicide-related charge, despite the child having died. This suggests the legal proceedings were still evolving at the time of publication, which could materially affect a researcher's understanding of how such cases are prosecuted.

Lives Cut Short