On August 11, 2022, 7-month-old Arabella Martir drowned in a bathtub in Rochester, Fulton County, Indiana, while under the care of her mother, Shawna Renee Glosser. The mother had placed Arabella in a plastic infant seat in the bathtub and left her unattended to go to another room. She had music playing loudly and could not hear the child. The bathtub was filled with over six inches of water, which officers noted was too much for such a small infant. The mother admitted to smoking marijuana prior to the incident. When she returned, she found Arabella face down in the water. The infant seat had a prominent warning label advising it was never to be used in or near water, and a relative had previously found the child alone in the bathtub approximately three to four weeks prior and warned the mother it was unsafe. Officers found narcotics, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia in the apartment. Arabella was pronounced dead at Woodlawn Hospital. Her mother was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a level 1 felony.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
All three sources confirm a drowning incident. The fatality report states the child "died by drowning due to lack of supervision." The vital records document lists the cause of death as "ASPHYXIA; DROWNING." The news article's headline reads "Rochester Woman Arrested After Daughter Drowns In Bathtub."
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fatality report states the child "died by drowning due to lack of supervision" and that "the mother went to another room, leaving the child alone. She had music playing loudly and couldn't hear the child." The news article corroborates this, quoting the mother as saying she made a "bad mom move" by leaving the infant in the bathtub unattended. Additionally, the fatality report notes a relative had previously found the child alone in the bathtub 3-4 weeks earlier.
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?
The fatality report identifies the "Perpetrator: Mother" and describes the mother leaving the child unattended in the bathtub. The news article identifies the mother as Shawna Renee Glosser, who was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in 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 news article states "Shawna Renee Glosser, 26, ... is charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a level 1 felony" and that she "was booked in the Fulton County Jail on Sept. 7."
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 fatality report states "The mother admitted to smoking marijuana prior to the incident." The news article corroborates this, noting "officers smelled burnt marijuana" upon entering the apartment, and that "while searching the home, officers found multiple narcotics, marijuana and drug paraphernalia."
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge across the sources. First, the fatality report states "The seat had a prominent warning label advising it was never to be used in or near water," indicating the mother used a product in a manner explicitly contrary to its safety warnings. Second, the fatality report notes that "A relative reported that he visited the home three to four weeks prior and found the child alone in the bathtub – half in the seat, half in the tub. He said he told the mother it was unsafe to leave the child alone in the bathtub," establishing that the mother had been previously warned about this exact dangerous behavior. Third, the news article reports that "while searching the home, officers found multiple narcotics, marijuana and drug paraphernalia," suggesting broader substance use issues beyond the marijuana the mother admitted to smoking.
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