Shivani Jishnu, a 13-month-old girl with no pre-existing medical conditions, became unresponsive on the afternoon of December 16, 2021, while in the care of Kayfield Academy II daycare in Louisville, Kentucky. Doctors at Norton Children's Hospital determined her injuries were consistent with a lack of oxygen for at least 20 minutes. She was placed on life support and died on January 7, 2022. The daycare initially told EMTs the child was found unconscious during nap time, but EMS was actually called more than two hours after nap time ended. The supervising teacher, Parshati Pal, left the country after the incident. No video footage of the child's classroom was available despite the facility advertising continuous surveillance cameras. The parents filed a lawsuit alleging the daycare violated child-to-staff ratios, failed to properly train staff, and provided false information to emergency responders.
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)?
The WHAS11 article states the parents' lawsuit alleged "the daycare violated child-to-staff ratios, failed to properly train staff." The WAVE3 Jan 27 article notes that doctors believe the child "went without oxygen for over 20 minutes before being rushed to the hospital" and that "EMS was called more than two hours after nap time ended." These facts collectively imply that the child was inadequately supervised at the daycare, allowing a medical crisis to go undetected for an extended period.
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?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
The WAVE3 Jan 27 article states: "The employee who was in charge of caring for the toddler at Kayfield left the country in late December." The WHAS11 article names the daycare teacher: "The lawsuit also names the teacher supervising the classroom at the time, Parshati Pal, who according to the family's attorneys, left the country after the medical emergency occurred, but has since returned." The lawsuit alleges negligence by the daycare including violated child-to-staff ratios and failure to properly train staff.
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?
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?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from these sources. First, the WAVE3 Jan 27 article reports the daycare employee in charge of the child "left the country in late December" and had not returned, while the WHAS11 article names this teacher as Parshati Pal and notes she has since returned. Second, despite the daycare marketing itself on transparency with cameras "present in all rooms of the school and are always recording," the family's statement in the WAVE3 Jan 27 article notes "Kayfield II indicates that there is no video footage of (the child's) classroom for the date of the incident." Third, there was significant misinformation: "Kayfield employees told emergency responders that the girl was found unconscious while she was taking a nap. However, records also show EMS was called more than two hours after nap time ended." Fourth, the family alleges "school officials repeatedly assured parents, staff, and the public on social media that the girl, despite being on life support, was recovering well and was stable." These details suggest significant potential evidence destruction or failure, false reporting to emergency responders, and public misrepresentation of the child's medical condition.
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