Rodney Taylor
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CANDID ID: IN_22_123
AGE
Infant
STATE
Indiana
DATE OF DEATH
9/2/2022
STATE REPORTS
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On September 2, 2022, 8-month-old Rodney Taylor died from fentanyl toxicity while in the care of his father, Rodney Taylor II, at the paternal grandfather's home in Anderson, Indiana. The mother was at work, and the father — who had relapsed into drug use after graduating from drug court — admitted to using fentanyl at approximately 1:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. that day. While the father was the sole caregiver, the crawling infant found and handled a piece of foil containing a gray salt-like substance. The father put the child down for a nap and fell asleep on the couch. When the mother called later, the father awoke and found the child unresponsive and not breathing. He attempted CPR and flagged down passersby to call 911, as his phone was not working. The child was transported to St. Vincent Hospital and pronounced dead shortly before 7:30 p.m. The child's toxicology was positive for fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl, and naloxone. Police found marijuana, a spoon with white residue, and scales in the home, and the father later admitted to having hidden oxycodone pills. The father was subsequently charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Multiple sources confirm the child died from fentanyl toxicity after ingesting or being exposed to fentanyl. The vital records document (INME_22_Taylor.pdf) lists the cause of death as "FENTANYL TOXICITY." The DCS report (INDCS_22_Taylor.pdf) states: "An 8-month-old boy died from fentanyl toxicity" and notes "The child's toxicology test was positive for naloxone, para-fluorofentanyl and fentanyl." The news article reports "his 9-month-old son died from ingesting fentanyl."

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)?

The father was under the influence of drugs while being the sole caregiver for the crawling infant, and drugs/drug paraphernalia were accessible to the child. The DCS report states: "the child had been crawling around and he found him holding a piece of foil with a salt-like substance on it." The news article reports the father "had been using opiate drugs such as fentanyl" and "he used at about 1:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. that day." The prosecutor stated: "The parent is supposed to protect that child and what happened couldn't have happened if the adults were doing his or her job." The father was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death.

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 DCS report (INDCS_22_Taylor.pdf) identifies the perpetrator as "Father" and states the child "lived with his parents." The news article identifies the father as "Rodney Taylor II" and describes the child as "his 9-month-old son." The mother is referred to as Taylor II's "girlfriend" and "the mother of the child," confirming these are the biological parents.

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)?

The DCS report (INDCS_22_Taylor.pdf) states "Perpetrator history of substantiated assessments: 1," indicating the father had one prior substantiated child protection assessment. While the victim himself had no prior assessments ("Number of previous unsubstantiated assessments for victim: 0" and "Number of previous substantiated assessments for victim: 0"), the father's prior substantiated assessment constitutes a history of child protection reports for the caregiver.

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 news article states: "An Anderson man was arrested on a charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death after his 9-month-old son died from ingesting fentanyl." It further states: "Rodney Taylor II, age 29, turned himself in on Nov. 22." He was "booked into the Madison County Jail."

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?

The news article states that the father "had relapsed in the past couple of weeks after being clean for several years and graduating from 'drug court.'" Drug court is a court-supervised treatment program typically ordered as an alternative to incarceration for criminal drug offenses, implying prior criminal involvement related to drugs that predates this fatal incident. Additionally, the DCS report notes "Perpetrator history of substantiated assessments: 1," indicating prior involvement with child protective services.

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Extensive substance use by the father/caregiver is documented. The DCS report states: "the father tested positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and norfentanyl." The news article reports: "Taylor II told police that he had relapsed in the past couple of weeks after being clean for several years" and "He said he had been using opiate drugs such as fentanyl." Additionally, he admitted to using at "about 1:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. that day," having marijuana, and hiding "Roxy pills."

Notable Details

Several notable details not fully captured by preceding questions emerge from the text. First, the news article reports that after discovering his child unresponsive, the father admitted he had hidden "Roxy pills" in the house but "could not remember where he put them 'because so much was going on when he ran back to hide them,'" indicating he delayed seeking emergency help in order to conceal drugs. Second, the DCS report notes the child's toxicology was positive for naloxone (Narcan), suggesting someone administered an opioid overdose reversal agent to the infant, though no source describes who administered it or under what circumstances. Third, the father's phone was not working during the emergency, forcing him to run outside and flag down a stranger to call 911, which likely delayed the emergency response.

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