On August 10, 2023, 16-month-old Bre'asia Christine Dowdell was dropped off by her mother to stay overnight with the mother's friend, Sharon Myers (24), and Myers' girlfriend, Chrisona Denea Bright (26), in Fort Wayne, Indiana. During the night, at least one of the two caregivers used fentanyl. When the mother returned the next day to pick up her child, she found Bre'asia unresponsive. Emergency responders transported the child to a hospital, where she was found to be suffering from head trauma, a brain bleed, a collapsed lung, bleeding to at least one eye, and acute respiratory failure requiring intubation. Doctors determined the injuries were not accidental and were likely caused by shaking. Bre'asia remained on life support for six days before being removed from it on August 17, 2023, when she died. The Allen County Coroner ruled the death a homicide caused by complications of blunt impact injuries to the head. Both Myers and Bright were arrested and charged with felony neglect of a dependent resulting in death; Myers later pleaded guilty to reduced charges.
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 medical examiner report (INME_2023_BD.pdf) lists the cause of death as "COMPLICATIONS OF BLUNT IMPACT INJURIES OF HEAD" with the manner of death as "Homicide." The first news article states "A doctor would later tell investigators in court documents the injuries were not accidental and were likely caused by shaking the child." The second news article states "Doctors at the hospital told police in court documents the child's death likely came from being shaken and they were not accidental." This constitutes 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?
The first news article states "A doctor would later tell investigators in court documents the injuries were not accidental and were likely caused by shaking the child." The second news article similarly states "Doctors at the hospital told police in court documents the child's death likely came from being shaken and they were not accidental." The child suffered head trauma, a brain bleed, and bleeding to at least one eye, which are hallmarks of shaken baby/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?
While the DCS report categorizes the perpetrator as "Family friend," the circumstances describe the child being dropped off overnight to be cared for by these two women, effectively serving as informal babysitters. The first news article states "The child's mother dropped the child off to Myers and Bright on Aug. 10" and they had "care of the child." They were entrusted with sole caregiving responsibility for the child overnight, functioning as babysitters even though they were also family friends.
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
The DCS fatality report (INDCS_2023_BD.pdf) identifies the perpetrator as "Family friend" and describes the circumstances as involving "the mother's friend and the friend's girlfriend." The news articles identify these individuals as Sharon Myers (24) and Chrisona Denea Bright (26), both women, who were charged and arrested in connection with the death. They are female friends/paramours of the family who had care of the child.
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 fatality report (INDCS_2023_BD.pdf) states "Number of previous unsubstantiated assessments for victim: 2" and "Number of previous substantiated assessments for victim: 0." This confirms a 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 first news article states "Fort Wayne police arrested 24-year-old Sharon Myers and 26-year-old Chrisona Denea Bright on Wednesday on felony counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death and two counts of neglect of a dependent by placing the dependent in a situation that endangers the child." The second news article confirms Myers pleaded guilty and Bright was scheduled for trial.
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 first news article states that Myers and Bright "admitted that at least one of them used fentanyl the night they were taking care of the child, according to court documents." The second news article corroborates this with nearly identical language. As the caregivers entrusted with the child, their fentanyl use constitutes substance use by a caregiver.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the text. First, both Myers and Bright refused to speak to police investigators but did speak to a DCS caseworker, during which they admitted fentanyl use. Second, Myers received a significant plea reduction from a Level 1 felony (20-45 years) to Level 5 and Level 6 felonies (1.5-8.5 years), as stated in the second news article: "Initially, Myers faced 20 to upwards of 45 years in prison on a Level 1 felony count of neglect of a dependent... In her plea deal, she admitted to Level 5 and Level 6 felony counts of neglect of a dependent." Despite the manner of death being ruled a homicide with doctors stating the injuries were caused by shaking, neither suspect was charged with murder or battery — only neglect of a dependent.
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