Noah Dunlap
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CANDID ID: MI_23_1155
AGE
Infant
STATE
Michigan
DATE OF DEATH
12/5/2023
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
Noah Dunlap, a newborn male, died on December 5, 2023, in Westland, Michigan. According to the Wayne County Medical Examiner, the cause of death was asphyxiation due to drowning, with the description of injury noted as "birthed into toilet," and the manner of death was ruled homicide. His mother, Trisha Lempea (age 31), gave birth at her home on the 2500 block of Bannister Court and did not seek any medical attention for the infant. Police were called to a hospital around 11 PM on December 5 for a report of an infant death; news reports indicated the child had been born approximately one week earlier. Lempea was initially charged with felony murder, first-degree child abuse, and concealing the death of an individual, but was ultimately sentenced on March 21, 2025, to 10-20 years in prison for second-degree murder, with the child abuse and concealing death charges dropped.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?

The medical examiner report (MI_23_1155.pdf) lists the immediate cause of death as "Asphyxiation due to drowning" with the description of injury as "Birthed into toilet." This is an intentional drowning incident classified as homicide.

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?

The Detroit News article states that "the baby boy's mother did not call for medical attention." The ClickOnDetroit article corroborates this: "Police said no medical attention had been requested." The mother gave birth at home and obtained no medical care whatsoever for the newborn, constituting 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?

All sources identify the biological mother, Trisha Lempea, as the person responsible. The Detroit News article states: "Detectives also determined the child died at the home and the baby boy's mother did not call for medical attention. After obtaining the results of an autopsy from the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office, police arrested the infant's mother, identified as Lempea." She was charged and ultimately convicted of second-degree murder.

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 Detroit News article states: "Trisha Lempea, 31, was arraigned Thursday in 18th District Court in Westland on charges of felony murder, first-degree child abuse and concealing the death of an individual." The ClickOnDetroit article confirms she was sentenced: "Lempea was sentenced Friday, March 21, to 10-20 years in prison for second-degree murder."

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

There is a notable discrepancy between the medical examiner report and the news articles regarding the timeline. The ME report (MI_23_1155.pdf) lists the description of injury as "Birthed into toilet" with cause of death "Asphyxiation due to drowning," suggesting the child drowned at birth. However, both news articles state that the child "had been born about a week earlier" before the December 5 death report, and the ClickOnDetroit article states Lempea "had given birth one week prior at her home, did nothing else and the infant died inside the home." Additionally, Lempea was originally charged with felony murder and first-degree child abuse, but was ultimately convicted of the lesser charge of second-degree murder with a sentence of 10-20 years, and the child abuse and concealing death charges were dropped. The charge reduction from felony murder to second-degree murder is notable, as is the concealment aspect — the death was only discovered when the mother went to a hospital on December 5, 2023.

Lives Cut Short