Three-year-old Essence Toft drowned in a pond behind her grandmother's house on Eastview Circle in Eureka, Illinois, on July 11, 2023, while playing near the water with two other children. She was not breathing when first responders arrived and was pronounced brain dead two days later at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Her father, Tyler Toft, 20, was subsequently charged with felony child endangerment, with the child's mother stating he had a history of failing to closely supervise Essence. After the incident, Toft moved to Florida and was arrested by U.S. Marshals at an apartment complex in Panama City Beach.
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 article explicitly describes a drowning: "The drowning of a three-year-old local girl in a Eureka pond last month has led to the arrest of her father on a felony charge of child endangerment." The child was "not breathing when first responders arrived" and was "pronounced brain dead two days later."
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The news article explicitly states: "Toft had a history of failing to closely supervise Essence, according to Berry." Additionally, the child was "playing near a pond with two other children behind her grandmother's house" and drowned, and the father was charged with child endangerment, strongly indicating inadequate supervision.
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?
The article states that Tyler Toft is the child's father and was arrested on a child endangerment charge related to her drowning death. The headline reads: "Father accused of child endangerment for 3-year-old daughter's drowning." His arrest was directly related to the child's 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)?
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 article states: "members of the U.S. Marshal's Florida Caribbean Fugitive Task Force arrested Tyler Toft, 20, formerly of Morton, at an apartment complex in Panama City Beach, Florida." He was arrested on a felony charge of child endangerment related to his daughter's drowning 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?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The article contains several notable details: (1) The father, Tyler Toft, "went ahead with plans to move to Florida shortly after the girl's death," suggesting potential flight from prosecution. (2) He was apprehended by U.S. Marshals "working undercover" at an apartment complex in Panama City Beach, Florida, involving a multi-state fugitive arrest. (3) The article notes that extradition proceedings would be needed, with uncertainty about how long they would take. These circumstances describe an unusual flight-and-apprehension sequence surrounding a child endangerment case.
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