Supreme Washington, a 15-day-old boy, died on February 8, 2023, in Evansville, Indiana (Vanderburgh County) from abusive head trauma, ruled a homicide. He lived with his parents, Jacob Washington (age 21) and Denaya Harris, along with grandparents and other family members. On the day of death, the parents reported staying in their bedroom with the child all day, noting he had not been eating well and attempting to feed him baby formula with a 10 mL syringe. The mother observed the child breathing hard but only checked his temperature. The parents admitted performing CPR on the child earlier that day but claimed the child seemed fine afterward. At no point did the parents seek medical attention for the child's breathing and feeding issues. When the father later attempted to feed the child, the baby stopped breathing. An autopsy revealed brain hemorrhages and multiple rib fractures. The father later told police the baby had fallen from a baby rocker days before the death but neither parent had sought medical attention. Both parents were arrested and charged with neglect causing death.
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)
Multiple documents confirm inflicted injury. The vital records document (INME_2023_SW.pdf) lists the cause of death as "ABUSIVE HEAD TRAUMA" with manner of death "Homicide" and ICD code T741 (physical abuse, confirmed). The DCS report states: "At autopsy, the child was found to have brain hemorrhages and multiple rib fractures." These injuries in a 15-day-old are consistent with inflicted physical injury.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The DCS fatality report states: "At no point did the parents seek medical attention for the child when the child had breathing and feeding issues." The news article corroborates this, reporting: "In both of those incidents, Washington and Harris said they didn't seek medical attention for the baby." The parents also admitted performing CPR on the child earlier that day yet still did not call for help. The charges filed were "neglect causing death."
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?
All three documents explicitly reference abusive head trauma. The vital records document lists "Cause of Death: ABUSIVE HEAD TRAUMA." The DCS report states the child "died from abusive head trauma." The news article reports the coroner "determined that the cause of death for the baby was 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 identifies the perpetrators as "Father, mother." The news article identifies the father as "21-year-old Jacob Washington" who was arrested and charged with "neglect causing death." The child's surname is Washington, consistent with the father being a biological parent.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The DCS report identifies the perpetrators as "Father, mother." The news article identifies the mother as "Denaya Harris" who was also arrested and charged with "neglect causing death." The DCS report describes both parents as living with the child and alternating care.
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: "Jail records show 21-year-old Jacob Washington and Denaya Harris were booked on Monday on charges of neglect causing 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?
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