Two-year-old Nychelle N. Pettus was found unresponsive in an apartment on County Road in District Heights, Prince George's County, Maryland, on the evening of May 27, 2023, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her mother's boyfriend, Kevin Robinson (age 38), had been the sole caregiver for approximately eight hours while the child's mother, Coretta Pettus, was at work. Robinson initially denied any incident occurred but later admitted to picking the child up from her crib and accidentally dropping her roughly five hours before she was found dead. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by traumatic head injuries, finding a skull fracture across the top of the skull from side to side and injuries to the child's left shoulder and arm—injuries inconsistent with Robinson's account of an accidental drop. The medical examiner also found evidence that the child had sustained other injuries before the day she died, and the child had been hospitalized for malnutrition in the months preceding her death. Robinson was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death, and related charges, and was placed on home detention with a curfew by the judge.
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 (MD_23_370.pdf) lists the Injury Description as "Subject assaulted" and the Manner of Death as Homicide. The WTOP article details that the injuries included "a skull fracture, and it was across the top of her skull from side to side, and then several injuries to her shoulder and her arm on her left side," which was ruled inconsistent with an accidental drop.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
The WTOP article states that "the child had also been hospitalized for malnutrition in the months before her death."
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?
While the specific clinical terms "shaken baby syndrome" or "abusive head trauma" are not used, the medical examiner report describes the cause of death as "Head Injuries" with "Subject assaulted" in a 2-year-old child, ruled homicide. The WTOP article details a skull fracture "across the top of her skull from side to side" that was inconsistent with the caregiver's account of an accidental drop. These facts collectively describe head trauma inflicted through abuse on a child, which constitutes abusive head trauma by definition.
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?
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)?
Multiple sources identify Kevin Robinson, 38, as the mother's boyfriend who lived with them and was the sole caregiver at the time of the child's death. The NBC Washington article states: "Police said Robinson is in a relationship with the little girl's mother" and "Robinson was alone with Nychelle when she was fatally injured, according to a preliminary investigation." He was charged with second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death.
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 NBC Washington article states: "Police announced Wednesday that they have arrested Kevin Robinson, 38, for the killing." He was "charged with second-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and related charges." The WTOP article confirms Robinson's arrest and subsequent court appearance.
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 substantive details not covered by preceding questions are present. First, the WTOP article reports that the judge's ruling noted "the medical examiner's report found the child had sustained other injuries before the day she died," indicating a history of prior abuse. Second, the child had been "hospitalized for malnutrition in the months before her death," and the assistant state's attorney acknowledged "There is some indication that maybe it wasn't the best of home circumstances." Third, Robinson's account changed between what he told police initially (denying anything happened) and what he later told CPS and police (admitting he dropped the child), suggesting evolving and inconsistent narratives. Fourth, Robinson's aunt "implied something else had been going on inside the home." Finally, despite facing second-degree murder charges, the judge granted Robinson home detention rather than keeping him detained, allowing him to continue working with a curfew—a decision the State's Attorney publicly disagreed with but acknowledged was within the judge's discretion.
These fields were populated by an AI model and may contain inaccuracies. Review the links and PDFs provided for verification before citing. Contact [email protected] to report any inaccuracies where corrections are needed.