Seven-year-old Barrett Koches, a foster child in the care of David and Michael Yankee in Springfield, Illinois, drowned on March 16, 2024, in an uncovered in-ground swimming pool at the foster home. Foster father David Yankee left the three foster children — Barrett (age 7), Barrett's brother Ryder (age 4), and a 10-year-old foster brother — without adult supervision for approximately one hour while he went to Walmart, where he became distracted shopping. During his absence, the children went into the backyard. The 4-year-old threw a brick into the shallow end of the partially filled pool, and Barrett jumped in to retrieve it. After throwing the brick out, Barrett slipped in the shallow end and slid into the deep end, which contained approximately five feet of murky, debris-laden water. The 10-year-old ran to the front of the house and flagged down a FedEx driver to call 911, as the children had no access to a phone. Barrett was pulled from the pool by a firefighter and police officer, transported to HSHS St. John's Hospital, and pronounced dead at 1 p.m. David Yankee was subsequently charged with two felony and two misdemeanor counts of endangering the life or health of a child. DCFS indicated him for death by neglect and both foster parents for inadequate supervision.
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 explicitly states the cause of death was "Drowning" and describes how the child "slipped into the deep end which had water in it" of the pool. The first news article confirms the child "was found face-down in the home's uncovered pool." The child was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Inadequate supervision is central to this case. The fatality report states that "the other foster father later left the child and his 4-year-old brother in the care of their 10-year-old foster brother for approximately one hour" and that "DCFS indicated the foster father for death by neglect (#51) and indicated both foster parents for inadequate supervision (#74)." The first news article adds that "the entry gate to the fenced-in backyard where the pool was located didn't have locks or evidence of other safety measures" and that the children "didn't have access to a phone for emergencies." The foster father left to go to Walmart and "got distracted in the clearance and Easter aisle, so he took longer in Walmart than expected."
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?
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?
David Yankee, one of the child's foster fathers, was directly involved in the death through his negligent supervision. The fatality report states "DCFS indicated the foster father for death by neglect (#51) and indicated both foster parents for inadequate supervision (#74)." The second news article confirms that David Yankee was charged with "two felony counts and two misdemeanor counts of endangering the life or health of a child" in connection with Barrett's drowning 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?
The fatality report explicitly identifies the child as "Youth in care" and describes his placement at a foster home. The first news article identifies Barrett as "a foster child in the care of Yankee, 48, and his husband, Michael."
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 details two prior child protection investigations. "Approximately five months before the child's death, DCFS received a report that the child's then 3-year-old brother disclosed his mother touched him inappropriately." This was unfounded. "One month before the child's death, DCFS received a report that the grandmother had a mental health episode and left the child's 14-year-old brother home alone." This investigation was pending at the time of death and later unfounded.
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 second news article reports that David Yankee "was charged July 24 with endangering the life or health of a child in connection with the March 16 swimming pool drowning of 7-year-old Barrett Koches." He was charged with "two felony counts and two misdemeanor counts." The fatality report also notes, "One foster father has been charged in connection with 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 that "DCFS received a report that the grandmother had a mental health episode and left the child's 14-year-old brother home alone." The grandmother was serving as a caregiver for the 14-year-old sibling, and her mental health is explicitly referenced.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several systemic and contextual details are noteworthy. The fatality report states the children "came into care due to their mother's housing instability" and that "the mother was making progress toward all goals, and the children's permanency goal remained return home," meaning the child died in foster care while his mother was actively working toward reunification. The first news article reveals significant safety failures at the foster home: "the entry gate to the fenced-in backyard where the pool was located didn't have locks or evidence of other safety measures to prevent unauthorized access to the pool" and the children "didn't have access to a phone for emergencies." The pool water was described as "murky black/brown" and the "pool was left uncovered, and due to this, debris and water accumulated at the bottom." Barrett had only been at the foster home for "approximately a month." Community protests occurred outside a DCFS office, with signs reading "The System Has Failed Barrett" and "How Many More Kids Have to Die? Take Action!" Additionally, David Yankee stated to a reporter, "You destroyed my life," claiming he was "fired from my job" due to news coverage.
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