An 8-year-old medically complex girl diagnosed with cerebral palsy, seizures, who was non-verbal and used a g-tube and wheelchair, was found by her mother unresponsive in a bathtub with her face submerged in water. The mother reported she had left the room to retrieve a towel. The child was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The cause and manner of death were ruled undetermined. DCFS indicated the mother for death by neglect and inadequate supervision. The family had been experiencing housing insecurity and was living in a hotel at the time; intact family services had been referred to assist with housing but the handoff meeting had not yet occurred when the child died.
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: "Nine-year-old medically complex child was found, by her mother, unresponsive in a bathtub, with her face submerged in water." The child was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced deceased, consistent with a drowning incident.
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: "DCFS indicated the child's mother for death by neglect (#51) and inadequate supervision (#74)." The mother left the medically complex child alone in a bathtub to retrieve a towel, during which time the child's face became submerged in water.
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?
The fatality report states the child "was found, by her mother, unresponsive in a bathtub, with her face submerged in water. The mother reported she left the room to retrieve a towel for the child." Furthermore, "DCFS indicated the child's mother for death by neglect (#51) and inadequate supervision (#74)."
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)
The fatality report states the child "was non-verbal" and had been diagnosed with "cerebral palsy and seizures." Being non-verbal and having cerebral palsy are neurological/developmental disabilities.
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
The fatality report states: "She had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and seizures, was non-verbal, and used a g-tube and wheelchair." The g-tube (feeding tube) and wheelchair are physical disabilities.
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: "In June 2022, DCFS received a report regarding potential housing insecurity for the child's family." This child welfare services referral occurred approximately two months before the child's death in August 2022, constituting a prior report. The reason for review is explicitly "Child welfare services referral within one year of child's death."
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?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
The fatality report states: "the reporter noted the family had moved into a hotel" and "The worker met with the mother, the child, the child's 4-year-old brother, and the child's nurse at the hotel." The worker then referred the case for intact family services "to assist the family with housing." In August 2022, the handoff meeting for intact family services had not yet taken place when the child died, implying the family's housing situation was unresolved and they were likely still in a hotel at the time of death.
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
The fatality report describes several notable systemic and contextual details. First, there was a significant delay: the child welfare services referral was made in June 2022, but the intact family services handoff meeting was not scheduled until August 2022, and "the child died the next day, before the handoff took place. The referral for intact family services was withdrawn following the child's death." This timing gap represents a potential policy or systemic failure in service delivery. Second, the report describes the child's birth-injury settlement estate and the complex housing insecurity: "the hospital where the child was born had paid a settlement which went into an estate," the estate offered to pay back rent, but the landlord refused. Notably, "the sheriff who went to the home refused to evict the family when he saw the child's condition." Additionally, funds were authorized for an extended hotel stay, but the mother withdrew the funds in cash and initially returned to the apartment rather than going to the hotel.
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