unnamed girl
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CANDID ID: IL_22_2075
AGE
Infant
STATE
Illinois
DATE OF DEATH
7/1/2022
MEDIA
Not Available
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
SUMMARY OF DEATH
A newborn girl was born prematurely at 28 weeks gestation in July 2022 and began experiencing respiratory problems shortly after birth. She was airlifted to another hospital and treated in the NICU but was pronounced deceased at 13 hours old. The cause of death was multiple congenital anomalies and complications of premature birth, with in utero exposure to methamphetamine and phenobarbital as a significant contributing condition. The mother had not received prenatal care and tested positive for methamphetamines at the hospital; the baby also tested positive for methamphetamines and phenobarbital. The mother initially claimed she did not know she was pregnant, but police body cam footage from one month earlier showed her telling an officer she was pregnant. DCFS had prior involvement with the family, having indicated the mother for neglect in 2021 following the birth of a sibling under similar circumstances, and the child's siblings were already in the care of relatives.
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)

Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

The fatality report states "the mother had not received prenatal care" for this pregnancy, and for the prior sibling's birth, "the mother received very little prenatal care" and "she had not picked up prescribed medication." The absence of prenatal care, combined with known substance use and the child's premature birth with congenital anomalies, implies medical neglect. DCFS indicated the mother for "death by 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)?

The fatality report explicitly states the cause of death includes a "significant contributing condition of in utero exposure to methamphetamine and phenobarbital." It further notes "the baby tested positive for methamphetamines and phenobarbital" and the mother "used methamphetamine one week before the birth."

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: "DCFS indicated the newborn's mother for death by neglect (#51) and substance misuse by neglect (#65)." The mother's methamphetamine use during pregnancy was a significant contributing condition to the child's death, as the cause of death includes "in utero exposure to methamphetamine and phenobarbital."

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)

The fatality report lists the cause of death as "Multiple congenital anomalies and complications of premature birth," which constitutes a physical disability present at birth.

Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?

The fatality report states: "She had been born premature, at 28 weeks gestation" and lists "complications of premature birth" as part of the cause of death.

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

The fatality report describes a prior DCFS report from June 2021 regarding the newborn's sister: "In June 2021, DCFS received a report that the newborn's mother gave birth to the newborn's sister, the mother received very little prenatal care, the mother tested positive for amphetamines and communicable diseases at a previous prenatal visit." DCFS "indicated the mother for substantial risk of physical injury/environment injurious to health and welfare by neglect (#60)."

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?

Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?

The fatality report states the mother "reported she had a mental health diagnosis and had been unable to take medication during the pregnancy."

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

The fatality report states: "police reported body cam footage from one month earlier that recorded her telling a police officer they could not place her in handcuffs because she was pregnant." This implies the mother had a police encounter where she was about to be placed in handcuffs (likely detained or arrested) prior to the child's birth and death, suggesting prior criminal involvement separate from the child's death.

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The fatality report provides multiple references to the mother's substance use: "the mother tested positive for methamphetamines," "She reported she used methamphetamine one week before the birth," and from the prior report, "she tested positive for marijuana and amphetamines." DCFS indicated the mother for "substance misuse by neglect (#65)."

Notable Details

The fatality report describes a notable contradiction: "The mother initially reported she did not know she was pregnant, but police reported body cam footage from one month earlier that recorded her telling a police officer they could not place her in handcuffs because she was pregnant." This body cam evidence directly contradicted the mother's claims. Additionally, the report details that DCFS had prior involvement with this family: a sibling had been born in June 2021 under similar circumstances (little prenatal care, positive drug tests), the maternal great grandmother had guardianship of a then 2-year-old sibling, and DCFS had indicated the mother for neglect — yet the mother was able to become pregnant and carry this child to 28 weeks without any prenatal care or apparent DCFS monitoring, raising potential systemic concerns about follow-up with known high-risk families.

Lives Cut Short