On January 10, 2022, five-year-old Braydon Irwin was found not breathing at a residence on Greer Road in Payneville, Meade County, Kentucky, while in the care of his mother's boyfriend, 40-year-old Daniel Clemans. Another child at the residence called 911. Braydon was transported to Harrison County Hospital in Corydon, Indiana, where he was pronounced dead. The official cause of death was multiple injuries to the body from assault, specifically blunt force trauma to the abdomen, and the manner of death was ruled homicide. Clemans initially claimed the injuries resulted from a dirt bike accident but was eventually convicted in the child's death. The child's mother, Kayla Irwin, was also arrested and charged but was out of state at the time; her charges were later dropped.
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)
The official vital records document (INME_22_Irwin.pdf) lists the cause of death as "MULTIPLE INJURIES TO THE BODY; ASSAULT" with a manner of death of homicide. Multiple news articles confirm the preliminary cause of death was "blunt force trauma," and the WDRB article specifies "blunt force trauma to the abdomen." These clearly indicate inflicted injury.
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?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Multiple sources identify the mother's boyfriend, Daniel Clemans, as involved in the child's death. The WDRB article states: "Clemens, who initially claimed Braydon's death was the result of a dirt bike accident, was eventually convicted in the child's death." The 14news article confirms Kayla Irwin "wasn't at the home when the call was made to 911," and the WDRB article states she was "out of state at the time." Clemans was the mother's boyfriend and was ultimately convicted for causing Braydon's death.
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?
Multiple sources confirm arrests and charges. The k105 article states: "Braydon's mother, 28-year-old Kayla Irwin, of Tell City, Indiana, and her boyfriend, 40-year-old Daniel Clemans, of Payneville, were arrested." Kayla Irwin's charges were later dropped per the WDRB article, but Daniel Clemans "was eventually convicted in 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?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several substantive details emerge from the WDRB article. Kayla Irwin, the child's mother, was arrested and charged with murder despite being out of state at the time of the incident. She spent seven months in jail and was denied the opportunity to attend her son's funeral. Her charges were later dropped. She subsequently filed a lawsuit against Meade County officials—including Sheriff Phillip Wimpee, a deputy, and a prosecutor—alleging they mishandled the investigation and unfairly kept her incarcerated. The lawsuit also alleges that "Wimpee's own history with losing a son affected his decision to arrest Irwin." The perpetrator, Daniel Clemans, initially claimed the death was the result of a dirt bike accident but was eventually convicted. Another child at the residence was the one who called 911 to report Braydon not breathing. This case involves a cross-state jurisdictional dimension: the assault occurred in Meade County, Kentucky, but the child was transported to and died at Harrison County Hospital in Indiana.
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