Nine-month-old Kinsley Evans was dropped off at her biological father Charles Evans' home during Memorial Day weekend 2023 for a short visit. The father refused to return the child despite repeated requests from the mother and grandmother. Over the following approximately three weeks, the family sought help from Detroit police (who called it a civil matter), Child Protective Services, the courts, and the father's probation officer, but no effective intervention occurred. On June 26, 2023, Kinsley was pronounced dead at her father's home in Eastpointe, Michigan. Her grandmother described seeing knots on both sides of Kinsley's head, purple bruises on her face, and a swollen chest when identifying the body. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by multiple injuries. Charles Evans was subsequently charged with felony murder and first-degree child abuse, and the CPS supervisor involved in the case was fired.
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 (MI_23_1426.pdf) lists the cause of death as "Multiple injuries" with "traumatic injuries" described. The Detroit News article reports the grandmother observed upon identifying the body: "Her granddaughter had knots on both sides of her head, her face had purple bruises and her chest was swollen." The WXYZ article notes the prosecutor said "The injuries inflicted on this nine-month-old baby are too numerous to fathom." The father was charged with felony murder and first-degree child abuse, confirming inflicted injuries.
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)?
The child was held by her father for approximately three weeks against the mother's and grandmother's wishes, and was uninjured when dropped off. At the time of death, she had extensive injuries. The prosecutor stated: "Baby Kinsley lived a very short life of pain. The alleged facts are unbelievably tragic in this case. The injuries inflicted on this nine-month-old baby are too numerous to fathom." The grandmother described "knots on both sides of her head, her face had purple bruises and her chest was swollen." The combination of the father refusing to return the child (effective captivity) and inflicting numerous injuries over the approximately three-week period suggests a pattern of prolonged, deliberate cruelty rather than a single abusive episode.
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 WXYZ article states: "The father of a 9-month-old baby that he allegedly killed is facing charges in her murder." Charles Evans, identified as Kinsley's father, was charged with felony murder and first-degree child abuse. The Detroit News article confirms he is the baby's father: "her mother and grandmother sought to get police and CPS to help get her back from her father."
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)?
The Detroit News article reports the grandmother "kept checking in on where things stood with CPS" and "I called CPS personally myself, tried to get them to go out there" (WXYZ article). A CPS supervisor was involved in the case and was placed on administrative leave and later fired, confirming there was a CPS complaint/report prior to the child's death. The MDHHS spokesperson confirmed a supervisor was placed on leave "while the department investigates how (Kinsley's case) was handled."
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 WXYZ article states: "Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Charles Evans in connection with the homicide of Kinsley and he was arrested on Saturday. He's facing felony murder and first-degree child abuse charges."
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?
The Detroit News article states: "Nelson even tried the baby's father's probation officer, who told her there was nothing they could do." The existence of a probation officer for the father, Charles Evans, indicates he had a prior criminal history with at least one conviction resulting in probation. This predates and is separate from the charges arising from Kinsley's death.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The documents describe a cascading series of systemic failures across multiple agencies. The Detroit News article states that when the family called Detroit police for help retrieving the child, "officers told her it was a civil matter." When the family tried to file emergency motions at the courthouse in downtown Detroit, "because the courthouse was understaffed, they were told on different occasions to come the next day. The fourth time they went back, the motion was approved." The grandmother noted, "Unfortunately that was a three-week process." Police wellness checks were also inadequate: "Every time the police went in there and looked at her, they said nothing was wrong with Kinsley" (WXYZ). CPS also failed to act, leading to a supervisor being placed on administrative leave and later fired. The MDHHS confirmed the supervisor "has been dismissed following a department investigation." The Detroit News article also provides broader context: "In the past 10 years, 371 Michigan children died from abuse or neglect when their parents had a CPS complaint in the two years prior to the child's death." These failures across Detroit police, CPS, the courts, and probation represent a significant multi-system breakdown that directly enabled the child's death despite the family's repeated documented attempts to intervene.
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