A 9-month-old female infant drowned in the bathtub on April 22, 2023, in Cook County, Illinois. The mother had asked her children to clean the house, and the infant's 9-year-old brother decided the baby needed a bath and placed her in the bathtub. He then left the room to take out the garbage, asking his 4-year-old and 6-year-old siblings to watch the infant. When the 9-year-old returned, he found the infant submerged under the water. The mother removed the infant and called 911, but the child could not be saved. At the time of death, the family had an open DCFS intact family services case, and three prior child protection investigations had been unfounded within the year preceding the infant's death. The manner of death was ruled an accident.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Both documents explicitly identify drowning as the cause of death. The fatality report states "Cause of death: Drowning" and describes the infant being "found submerged in the bath." The medical examiner report lists "Primary Cause: DROWNING."
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 describes that the 9-year-old brother "placed her in the bathtub, left the room to take out the garbage, and asked his 4-year-old and 6-year-old siblings to watch the infant." The mother had asked the children to clean the house, leaving no adult supervision of the infant in the bathtub. Additionally, prior DCFS investigations included allegations of inadequate supervision (#74), including that the mother "left the children, who were then 4 weeks, 3 years, 5 years, and 9 years old, unsupervised at home while she worked."
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The fatality report states that in May 2022 "DCFS received a report that the mother punched the infant's then 5-year-old brother in the head because he did not want to ride the school bus." This is a mention of inflicted injury upon a sibling, although the brother denied it and the investigation was unfounded.
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 describes that "the mother had asked the children to clean the house" while the 9-year-old brother decided to bathe the infant. The mother was responsible for supervising the 9-month-old infant, and the infant drowned in the bathtub without adult supervision. The report also notes that "DCFS took protective custody of the infant's three siblings" and "A child protection investigation of the child's death remains pending," indicating the mother's supervisory role is under scrutiny.
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?
The fatality report states: "the 9-year-old brother stated he thought the infant needed a bath, so he placed her in the bathtub, left the room to take out the garbage, and asked his 4-year-old and 6-year-old siblings to watch the infant. When the 9-year-old brother returned, he found the infant under the water." The 9-year-old brother's direct actions led to the infant being in the bathtub unsupervised.
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)?
The fatality report explicitly states there were "three unfounded child protection investigations within one year of child's death." These include: a May 2022 report about the mother punching the 5-year-old brother; an August 2022 report about home conditions, unsupervised children, and other concerns; and a January 2023 report about the mother not picking up children from school and threatening school personnel. The report also details that DCFS unfounded each of these investigations.
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?
The fatality report notes that in the August 2022 investigation, "The reporter also noted concerns about domestic violence." While this was an allegation from a reporter and not confirmed, it is a reference to domestic violence in the context of the parent/caregiver.
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
The fatality report describes significant systemic concerns. Despite three DCFS investigations and an open intact family services case, the mother "had not engaged in parenting classes and counseling services" as noted by the intact worker at the time of the infant's death. The report describes that the mother "agreed to participate in parenting classes and individual therapy but did not engage in services." Additionally, the report mentions that "drug sales" and a "firearm" were concerns raised in a prior investigation, and that the home had cockroach and rat infestations. The fact that DCFS had an open case and multiple prior investigations yet the infant died from drowning in a bathtub placed there by a 9-year-old sibling while the mother was not directly supervising highlights potential failures in the child welfare system's ability to ensure child safety.
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