Prenteis'KeLeo Goode
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CANDID ID: MI_23_1918
AGE
1   year
STATE
Michigan
DATE OF DEATH
8/22/2023
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
One-year-old Prenteis'KeLeo Goode died on August 22, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan, from fentanyl toxicity after consuming drugs while in the care of his mother and another adult female in the home. His death was ruled a homicide by the Wayne County Medical Examiner. The child's father, Donnell Holmes, was not present at the time. Detroit police requested an arrest warrant, but the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office denied it, reportedly because two adults were present in the house and both could deny responsibility. Despite over a year of advocacy by the father — including weekly visits to the courthouse, outreach to elected officials, victim advocates, and the American Bar Association — no one has been charged in connection with the child's death.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

The medical examiner report (MI_23_1918.pdf) lists the immediate cause of death as "Fentanyl toxicity" and the description of injury as "Consumed drugs." The news articles also describe the death as a "fentanyl overdose." This is an explicit case of child drug ingestion resulting in death.

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)?

The child was 1 year old and consumed fentanyl while in the care of adults. The medical examiner report states the description of injury as "Consumed drugs" and the first news article notes the child "died on Aug. 22 while in the care of a relative." A 1-year-old consuming fentanyl necessarily implies a failure of adequate supervision, as a child that age cannot obtain and ingest drugs without a lapse in caregiver oversight.

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?

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

The second news article quotes the father stating "He was there with his mother" and explains that the prosecutor declined charges because "there were two adults in the house and both of them are going to say 'I didn't do it.'" The mother was one of the two adults present and responsible for the child's care when the child consumed fentanyl. The prosecutor's reasoning implies she is one of the potential responsible parties for the child's 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?

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?

While no source explicitly states that the parent or caregiver used fentanyl, the child consumed fentanyl while in the care of his mother and another adult in the home. The father is quoted in the second news article as saying "if they didn't find any fentanyl in the house, it was there in my son." The presence of fentanyl accessible to a 1-year-old in the household strongly implies substance involvement by the caregivers, as fentanyl had to be present in the environment for the child to consume it.

Notable Details

The second news article describes a significant systemic issue: Detroit police requested a warrant for arrest but it was denied by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. The stated reason was that "there were two adults in the house and both of them are going to say 'I didn't do it' and nowhere in the world does that make sense." The father's response was "Charge both of them." The father has spent over a year seeking justice, visiting the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice weekly in his military uniform, reaching out to victim advocates, the American Bar Association, City Councilwoman Mary Waters, and US Rep. Shri Thanadar — all without result. He directly criticized Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, saying she "dropped the ball." The case represents a notable instance of a homicide-ruled child death with no criminal charges filed due to the prosecutor's inability or unwillingness to identify a specific responsible party among two adults in the home.

Lives Cut Short