A 12-year-old boy with Type 1 diabetes died on April 12, 2022, from complications of diabetes mellitus, including diabetic ketoacidosis. His mother had a documented pattern of failing to manage his diabetes, including deliberately withholding insulin to 'teach him a lesson.' In October 2021, the child was hospitalized for hyperglycemia and a CPS investigation was opened, but it was improperly closed as a Category IV (no evidence of abuse/neglect) despite medical professionals' warnings that the mother's neglect could result in diabetic ketoacidosis or coma. On April 10, 2022, the child had elevated blood glucose and was non-verbal, but the mother did not seek medical attention. On April 11, 2022, the child was found unresponsive and blue; the mother drove him to the hospital but to the main entrance rather than the emergency room. The child died the next day. Methamphetamine was found in the mother's hotel room during a subsequent search warrant.
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)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Medical neglect is the central issue in this case. The OCA report states the mother admitted to CPS she "did not have [the child] 'do the food one [shot] for a week to show him how shitty he would feel.'" The report documents WMed staff warning that "if [the child]'s diabetes is not monitored closely, by the time [mother] realizes [child] is ill and needs medical attention, it could result in possible diabetic ketoacidosis with or without a coma." The death investigation was closed as a "category II substantiation for child abuse and/or neglect... The preponderance was for medical neglect of [child] by his mother." The OCA also found that the October 2021 investigation should have been substantiated for 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?
The biological mother was directly involved in the child's death through medical neglect. The report documents the mother admitted she withheld the child's insulin to teach him a lesson, stated "she had to crash to teach a lesson," and said she "did not have [child] 'do the food one [shot] for a week to show him how shitty he would feel.'" The death investigation was closed as a substantiation for medical neglect by the mother. The ER physician stated "this was negligent homicide" in his professional opinion.
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?
The OCA report states that the mother "told WMed staff [the child] is being home-schooled." This was documented during the November 2021 contact with WMed Pediatrics.
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 report states: "Prior to 2021, [the child] was the subject of several CPS investigations in Michigan. Three of these investigations resulted in substantiations for child abuse or neglect and were opened to provide ongoing services to the family. These cases were opened in 2001, 2017, and 2018." Additionally, the mother's "parental rights were terminated to three other children in Colorado between 2003 and 2004 due to substance abuse and a lack of benefit from services provided to her."
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?
The report states that during the April 2022 death investigation, "law enforcement served a search warrant at [mother]'s hotel room. A substance suspected to be methamphetamine was seized during the search." This indicates the family was living in a hotel room at the time of the child's death. Additionally, the report notes the family used a "Drop-In Center" as their address and the mother repeatedly refused to provide a residential address, suggesting housing instability.
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The report documents WMed staff telling CPS that the mother "may not have the capability and medical knowledge to take care of [the child]" and that "even though [mother] knows how to monitor glucose levels, give shots, monitor diet, etc., she may not be able to retain the information to full capacity." While this language suggests possible cognitive limitations affecting the mother's ability to provide care, it is not framed as a formal diagnosis of intellectual disability and could also reflect gaps in medical education rather than an inherent cognitive limitation.
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?
The report documents that "law enforcement served a search warrant at [mother]'s hotel room. A substance suspected to be methamphetamine was seized during the search. This substance was later confirmed to be methamphetamine." Additionally, the report states the mother's "parental rights were terminated to three other children in Colorado between 2003 and 2004 due to substance abuse and a lack of benefit from services provided to her."
Notable Details
The report describes significant systemic failures. During the OCA investigation, staff indicated "the suggestion was made that this case was closed to comply with case count statistics and federal oversight of CPS investigations." The program manager who made the disposition decision "did not review the case file or CPS investigative report" and "relied on incomplete information." Despite overwhelming evidence of medical neglect — including the mother's admission of deliberately withholding insulin, medical professionals' documented concerns, and the child's hospitalization for hyperglycemia — the October 2021 case was improperly closed as a Category IV (no preponderance of evidence). CPS staff acknowledged they "are aware policy states a petition should be filed asking for parents to participate when they are uncooperative" but this did not occur. MDHHS agreed with all findings and corrected the disposition in January 2024, nearly two years after the child's death.
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