Two-year-old Avia Jenkins died on June 4, 2023, from fentanyl intoxication at a home on Harvest Court in Crown Point, Indiana (Lake County). The child had been napping with her mother, Tiffany N. Jenkins, who was a daily heroin user, when the mother awoke to find the child unresponsive, face down, with purple lips and no pulse. The home was described as extremely filthy, with animal feces on floors, drug paraphernalia (including a bucket of needles on the bathroom sink, a burned spoon, and syringes on the counter), and nothing was baby-proofed. Drugs were found in the garage and the mother's drug screen was positive for cocaine, THC, and fentanyl. The mother had a significant child protection history, including being mentioned in 28 DCS case files, yet there was no open DCS involvement at the time of the fatal event. Tiffany Jenkins was charged on December 8, 2023, with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a level 1 felony, but had not been apprehended at the time of the news report.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
All three documents establish that the child died from fentanyl intoxication/overdose. The fatality report (INDCS_2023_AJ.pdf) states: "A 2-year-old girl died from fentanyl intoxication." The medical examiner report (INME_2023_AJ.pdf) lists the cause of death as "FENTANYL INTOXICATION." The news article states: "A toxicology report found Avia Jenkins, 2, had fentanyl in her system."
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 child died from fentanyl intoxication in a home where drugs and paraphernalia were readily accessible. The fatality report states: "Drugs were found in the garage, and syringes were found on the bathroom counter." The news article describes: "There was a silver bucket on the sink with needles sticking out, a burned spoon, needle caps on the floor." Additionally, the news article notes: "Nothing was baby proofed" and it was a "horrible environment." The mother admitted to using heroin "every 8-10 hours," making her unable to properly supervise a 2-year-old child in a home filled with dangerous drugs.
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?
The news article describes the mother and child co-sleeping in a bed surrounded by hazardous conditions: "Jenkins and her daughter were napping in the bed. Officers noted the room was 'filthy,' including a half-full milk gallon on the dresser, cigarette butts on the blankets and floor, food wrappers shoved under the mattress, dirty dishes and toys, cords, clothes, plastic bags and garbage 'all over.'" Furthermore, the mother reported that "When she woke up, she was rolled partly on the girl, who was face down." This co-sleeping in a bed with cigarette butts, cords, plastic bags, and other debris constitutes 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 (INDCS_2023_AJ.pdf) explicitly identifies the perpetrator as "Mother." The news article identifies her as Tiffany N. Jenkins, the child's biological mother, 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)?
The fatality report states the child "lived with her mother and mother's friend." The news article describes the mother's boyfriend, at whose Crown Point home the death occurred. The boyfriend allegedly supplied drugs to the mother ("She claimed the boyfriend bought her the drugs in exchange for sex"), and drug paraphernalia was found throughout the home. However, the boyfriend was not charged ("He has not been charged, according to public court filings") and the DCS report lists only the mother as the perpetrator. His role as the supplier of drugs and owner of the home where the death occurred implies some involvement, but the degree of his direct involvement in the child's death is ambiguous.
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 fatality report (INDCS_2023_AJ.pdf) states: "Number of previous unsubstantiated assessments for victim: 3" and "Number of previous substantiated assessments for victim: 1." Additionally, "Perpetrator history of substantiated assessments: 2." The news article further notes the DCS caseworker reported the mother was "mentioned" in 28 case files. This establishes an extensive history of child protection reports prior to the child's death.
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: "Tiffany N. Jenkins, of Hobart and Crown Point, was charged Dec. 8 with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a level 1 felony. It carries a 20-40 year penalty." However, the article also notes: "She has not been apprehended and is ordered held on a $5,000 cash bond."
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?
Multiple documents explicitly reference substance use by the mother/caregiver. The fatality report states: "The mother admitted to using drugs daily and submitted to a drug screen, which was positive for cocaine, THC and fentanyl." The news article adds: "Jenkins admitted she did drugs and used heroin the day before" and she told a DCS caseworker "she used heroin every 8-10 hours." The article also describes her as "A mother struggling with heroin addiction."
Notable Details
Several notable systemic and procedural details emerge from the text. The news article states that the DCS caseworker noted the mother was "mentioned" in 28 case files, and the fatality report documents 3 prior unsubstantiated and 1 substantiated assessment for the child, plus 2 substantiated assessments for the perpetrator — yet there was "No open DCS involvement" at the time of the fatal event. This raises significant questions about the adequacy of the child protection system's response to repeated reports. Additionally, the news article notes that despite being charged on December 8, the mother "has not been apprehended" and continued visiting the boyfriend's home and using heroin as late as August 31, telling police "she still visited the boyfriend's home and did heroin last about a week earlier." The mother also claimed the boyfriend bought her drugs in exchange for sex, suggesting a potentially exploitative arrangement. Another child had also "briefly lived with them" at one point, per the Hobart friend's account.
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