On April 24, 2022, Donald Humes called 911 to report that his 2-year-old son, Cameron Michael Humes, was unresponsive and not breathing at their home on Waban Avenue in Onset, Massachusetts. Wareham Police and emergency medical personnel responded, found Cameron unresponsive, and performed life-saving procedures before transporting him to Tobey Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be acute methadone intoxication from ingestion of methadone, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. After a lengthy investigation by Wareham Police and Massachusetts State Police, Donald Humes was indicted approximately two years later on one count of manslaughter and two counts of reckless endangerment of a child.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The death record (MA-SFN-022744.pdf) lists the injury detail as "INGESTION OF METHADONE" and cause as "ACUTE METHADONE INTOXICATION." The boston.com article describes Cameron's death as a "methadone overdose." The wareham.theweektoday.com article states "the overdose death of his two-and-a-half year old son."
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)?
A 2-year-old child ingested methadone that was accessible in the home, which implies a failure to appropriately supervise the child and/or secure the dangerous substance. The boston.com article notes Donald Humes was charged with "two counts of reckless endangerment of a child," further supporting that the child's access to the substance was due to inadequate supervision or safeguards.
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?
The boston.com article identifies Donald Humes as Cameron's father: "his father has been charged with manslaughter" and describes Cameron as "his son." The wareham.theweektoday.com article similarly states "the overdose death of his two-and-a-half year old son, Cameron Humes." Donald Humes was charged with manslaughter and reckless endangerment of a child in connection with Cameron's death.
Was a biological mother involved in the 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)?
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 boston.com article states: "Donald Humes, 32 of Onset, is charged with one count of manslaughter and two counts of reckless endangerment of a child." The wareham.theweektoday.com article confirms: "Donald Humes, has been indicted on one count of manslaughter and two counts of reckless endangerment of a child."
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?
Methadone was present and accessible in the home, and a 2-year-old child ingested it. Methadone is a controlled substance typically prescribed for opioid use disorder treatment or pain management. Its presence in the household strongly implies that a parent or caregiver was using or prescribed methadone. The death record states the injury detail was "INGESTION OF METHADONE" and the boston.com article describes the death as resulting from a "methadone overdose."
Notable Details
Two notable details emerge from the text. First, the investigation took approximately two years before charges were brought—the death occurred on April 24, 2022, and the indictment was announced on May 1, 2024. The boston.com article describes it as a "lengthy" and "in-depth" investigation. Second, Donald Humes was charged with two counts of reckless endangerment of a child (not just one), which may suggest the presence of another child in the household who was also at risk. The wareham.theweektoday.com article states he was indicted on "one count of manslaughter and two counts of reckless endangerment of a child."
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