Phoenix Allen, a 6-month-old girl born on December 30, 2022, died on July 8, 2023, from multiple injuries including blunt force trauma of the head. Her mother, Alauraeve Allen, 24, of Elkhart, Indiana, admitted to shaking the baby out of anger on July 6 and to striking the baby on prior occasions. After the shaking incident, the baby appeared cold and began vomiting, but the mother did not seek medical attention. The baby was found unresponsive on July 7 and transported first to Elkhart General Hospital and then to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, where she died the following day. An autopsy revealed fractured ribs, internal lacerations, and multiple abrasions. Allen was arrested on suspicion of murder and neglect of a dependent. Notably, Allen had previously researched shaken baby syndrome and understood it could cause death. At the time of the fatal event, the child was the subject of an ongoing CHINS case with Indiana DCS, and the family had a prior substantiated assessment.
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 WSBT article states Allen "said she was angry with the baby and shook her on July 6th and struck the baby prior to this and other occasions." The Newsweek article confirms Allen "confessed to authorities that she had 'struck the baby' and had caused injuries on other occasions." The cause of death includes blunt force trauma of the head (INME_2023_PA.pdf). These describe explicit inflicted injuries including shaking and striking.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The WSBT article states that after shaking the baby, Allen observed the baby "appeared to be cold and vomited after the shaking event, but was did not take the baby for medical aid." The Newsweek article corroborates: "Ms. Allen further advised that the baby appeared to be cold after the shaking event and began vomiting, but she did not take the baby for medical assistance at that time." This constitutes medical neglect — failure to seek medical attention for an injured child.
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?
The Newsweek article states that "Allen was accused of 'endangering' another child and faces charges in that case where investigators say a child molested a toddler while in her care." While this pertains to a different child, it is an explicit mention of sexual abuse (molestation) within the perpetrator's care history.
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
The WSBT headline reads "Elkhart mother arrested for shaken baby death of 6-month-old daughter." Both news articles reference "shaken baby syndrome" explicitly. The WSBT article states Allen "said she was angry with the baby and shook her" and that "Ms. Allen also stated that she has researched 'shaken baby syndrome' before, and understood that a possible consequence of shaking an infant is death." The cause of death includes blunt force trauma of the head, consistent with 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 fatality report (INDCS_2023_PA.pdf) lists "Perpetrators: Father, mother" and states "The parents were the sole caretakers of the child when she sustained her injuries." The report uses the term "Father" in the context of a household including mother, father, sibling, grandmother, and aunt, strongly implying a biological father. However, the news articles focus exclusively on the mother as the perpetrator, and the DCS report does not explicitly label the father as "biological." The discrepancy between sources is noted, but the official DCS report is favored.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The mother, Alauraeve Allen, is explicitly identified as the perpetrator across multiple sources. The WSBT article states she "said she was angry with the baby and shook her on July 6th and struck the baby prior to this and other occasions." The Newsweek article confirms she "admitted that she 'had been angry with the baby and shook her.'" The DCS report also lists "mother" as a perpetrator.
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)?
The DCS fatality report (INDCS_2023_PA.pdf) explicitly states: "DCS involvement at time of fatal event: Ongoing CHINS case," "Number of previous substantiated assessments for victim: 1," and "Perpetrator history of substantiated assessments: Mother, 1; father, 1." This clearly documents a history of child protection reports prior to the fatal event.
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 WSBT article states: "Prosecutors say the mother, Alauraeve Allen, 24, was arrested on suspicion of murder and neglect of a dependent." The Newsweek article confirms: "Alauraeve Allen, 24, of Elkhart, Indiana, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and neglect of a dependent following her baby's 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?
The Newsweek article states: "Earlier this month, Allen was accused of 'endangering' another child and faces charges in that case where investigators say a child molested a toddler while in her care... She faces two felony neglect of a dependent charges over the incident, which were filed earlier this month." These charges are clearly separate from the fatal incident (involving a different child), but the exact timing relative to the baby's death on July 8 is ambiguous — the charges may have been filed shortly before or shortly after the fatal event.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the documents. First, the Newsweek article states Allen "has researched 'shaken baby syndrome' before and understood that a possible consequence of shaking an infant is death," indicating prior knowledge that her actions could be fatal. Second, the DCS report reveals there was an "Ongoing CHINS case" at the time of the fatal event, meaning the child was already under Department of Child Services oversight when she was killed. Third, the Newsweek article notes Allen faced separate felony charges for failing to report or prevent the molestation of another child in her care. Fourth, the DCS report lists both "Father, mother" as perpetrators, while the criminal investigation and news coverage focus exclusively on the mother — a notable discrepancy between the child welfare and criminal justice findings.
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