Grayson Kelley
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CANDID ID: IN_22_1526
AGE
2   years
STATE
Indiana
DATE OF DEATH
11/9/2022
STATE REPORTS
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On November 9, 2022, two-year-old Grayson Kelley died from a contact gunshot wound to the chest at his home in Vincennes, Indiana. The family was preparing to leave for an out-of-town trip when the father, Triston Kelley, placed a loaded handgun inside the child's diaper bag — a bag the child routinely accessed for snacks and drinks. While the mother went outside to load the vehicle and the father stepped into the kitchen, the child retrieved the gun from the unzipped diaper bag in the living room, and it discharged. The parents transported the child to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he died. The mother admitted she knew the gun had been placed in the diaper bag and that the child would access it. The father was arrested and charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a Level 1 felony. The manner of death was officially 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)?

Is there any mention of a firearm incident?

All four documents describe a firearm incident. The vital records document (INME_22_Kelley.pdf) states the cause of death was "CONTACT GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE CHEST" with ICD code W34 (discharge from other and unspecified firearms). The DCS report (INDCS_22_Kelley.pdf) describes how "The father stated he had placed his gun in the child's diaper bag" and "the child got the gun out of the diaper bag and the gun went off." The news articles corroborate the child dying from a gunshot wound involving a handgun packed in a diaper bag.

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

The DCS report (INDCS_22_Kelley.pdf) describes that the father placed a loaded gun in the child's diaper bag — a bag the child routinely accessed — and both parents knew the child "would get into the diaper bag because he knew his drink and snacks were inside." The news article (wthitv.com) adds that the father "stepped into the kitchen while his kids continued playing in the living room" and "couldn't see the bag from the kitchen because a couch was in the way." The father was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and both parents are listed as perpetrators in the DCS report, indicating inappropriate 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 DCS report (INDCS_22_Kelley.pdf) lists "Perpetrator: Father, Mother" and describes the child living "with his parents and sibling." The father placed the gun in the diaper bag. The child's last name (Kelley) matches the arrested man's last name (Triston Kelley), and the news article (wthitv.com) refers to "his kids" when describing Kelley's statement to police, supporting that he is the biological father.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

The DCS report (INDCS_22_Kelley.pdf) lists "Mother" as a perpetrator alongside the father. The report states: "The mother stated she knew the father had placed the gun in the child's diaper bag and that the child would get into the diaper bag because he knew his drink and snacks were inside." The child lived with both parents.

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 news article (tristatehomepage.com) states: "officers with the Vincennes Police Department as well as the Knox County Sheriff's Department were able to locate and arrest 26-year-old Triston Kelley. Kelley has been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a level 1 felony." The wthitv.com article corroborates: "Kelley was charged with Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in 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?

The news article (wthitv.com) states: "While searching the home, police said they found bags of what they call a green leafy substance and several bottles of THC-based liquid." The discovery of these substances in the home where the parents resided implies substance use by the caregivers, though it is not explicitly stated that the parents consumed these substances.

Notable Details

A notable detail is the discrepancy between the official manner of death and the criminal charges. The vital records document (INME_22_Kelley.pdf) ruled the manner of death as "Accident," while the father was charged with a Level 1 felony — neglect of a dependent resulting in death. Additionally, the DCS report (INDCS_22_Kelley.pdf) highlights a particularly troubling detail: the mother admitted she "knew the father had placed the gun in the child's diaper bag and that the child would get into the diaper bag because he knew his drink and snacks were inside." This indicates both parents were aware the child could and would access the bag containing a loaded firearm, yet no action was taken to secure it. Police also found drug paraphernalia in the home during their search, as reported by wthitv.com.

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