Is there any mention of medical neglect?

The fatality report states that allegations included "the twins missed medical appointments" and "the parents left the children with an out-of-state family member with less than one can of formula, and the parents did not answer any calls from the family that week." While the parents denied missing appointments and the investigation was ultimately unfounded, the allegation of missed medical appointments and failure to provide adequate formula constitutes a reference to potential medical neglect.

Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?

The fatality report explicitly states the cause of death was "Asphyxiation due to unsafe sleeping environment." Additionally, the father reported he "placed her to sleep on her back, on a mattress on the floor, with a lightweight blanket over her." DCFS indicated the parents "for substantial risk of physical injury/environment injurious to health and welfare by neglect (#60)."

Was a biological father involved in the death?

The fatality report states the infant "was found unresponsive on her side by her father, who reported he placed her to sleep on her back, on a mattress on the floor, with a lightweight blanket over her." The father created the unsafe sleeping conditions (mattress on floor with blanket) that contributed to the child's death by asphyxiation. DCFS indicated the parents for substantial risk of physical injury/environment injurious to health and welfare by neglect.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

While the father is the one who placed the child to sleep, the fatality report states DCFS "indicated them for substantial risk of physical injury/environment injurious to health and welfare by neglect (#60)," referring to both parents. The mother was also a responsible caregiver in the household and was included in the DCFS finding related to the death.

Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)

The fatality report states "the mother reported that the infant's eye had been surgically removed because of cancer" and that "the infant recently saw an optometrist for a retina blastoma." The surgical removal of an eye due to retinoblastoma constitutes a physical disability.

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

The fatality report states under "Reason for review: Pending child protection investigation at time of child's death." Specifically, "In October 2022, DCFS received a report that the infant's father was heard saying he was going to harm the then 3-month-old infant and her twin brother, the twins missed medical appointments, the parents did not bathe the twins or their 22-month-old sister, and the family had been evicted from public housing because the parents grew marijuana." Additionally, "During the investigation, DCFS received additional reports that the parents fed the children by propping their bottles up." This investigation was pending when the child died.

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The fatality report states: "family members told the CPI of an incident where the father threw a rock at the mother, and the mother went to the emergency room for treatment." Additionally, law enforcement "reported an additional domestic incident, but there were no arrests." These clearly reference domestic violence by the father against the mother.

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

The fatality report states the family "had been evicted from public housing" and "the mother reported they were living with the children's paternal uncle who did not want the CPI in his home." The parents reported they "were in the process of finding a new apartment." This indicates the family was in a temporary, doubled-up living situation after eviction, which is a recognized form of housing instability/homelessness.

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

The fatality report states: "Law enforcement told the CPI the father had been arrested three times that year for incidents of telephone harassment and possession of cannabis in a motor vehicle without a valid driver's license." These arrests are prior to and separate from the child's death.

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The fatality report states the parents "denied domestic violence, mental health issues, and substance use other than marijuana." Additionally, the family was "evicted from public housing because the parents grew marijuana." The father was also arrested for "possession of cannabis in a motor vehicle." Marijuana/cannabis use by the parents is explicitly referenced multiple times.

The fatality report describes several notable systemic and contextual details. A DCFS investigation was already pending at the time of the child's death, during which multiple allegations of neglect and risk had been raised, including the father threatening to harm the children, missed medical appointments, and leaving children with inadequate formula. Notably, the CPI discussed safe sleep with the parents, who reported the twins slept in bassinets, and the parents "declined offers of pack-and-plays." Despite this direct intervention regarding safe sleep, the child subsequently died from asphyxiation in an unsafe sleeping environment (on a mattress on the floor with a blanket). Additionally, the infant had been diagnosed with retinoblastoma and had an eye surgically removed, and the contributing causes of death included adenovirus and RSV infections — with the sister and twin having been diagnosed with RSV three weeks prior. DCFS ultimately unfounded the prior investigation for both abuse and environmental neglect, and also unfounded the parents for death by neglect related to the death itself.