On August 21, 2023, at approximately 3:00 a.m. at a home in the 4300 block of Spruce Street in Inkster, Michigan, Drake Ariel Froust fatally assaulted his 2-month-old son, Leviathan. Officers dispatched around 4:00 a.m. found the infant unresponsive, and medics transported him to a hospital, where he died from his injuries on September 22, 2023. The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be head and neck trauma / blunt force trauma caused by shaking, and ruled the manner of death a homicide. The father was charged with felony murder and first-degree child abuse in March 2025.
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 Detroit News reports that the father "fatally assaulted his 2-month-old son" and that "the child had head and neck wounds believed to have been inflicted by his father." The ME record lists "Head and neck trauma with complications" as cause of death.
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?
Multiple sources state the cause of death was "blunt force trauma caused by shaking," per the CBS, ClickOnDetroit, and Wayne County Prosecutor documents.
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?
The Wayne County Prosecutor states "The defendant is the father of the infant" and that "Defendant Froust fatally assaulted the victim." News articles identify Drake Ariel Froust as the biological father who fatally assaulted his son.
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)?
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 reports "Inkster police arrested Froust at his home" and he "was arraigned Friday in 22nd District Court in Inkster on charges of felony murder and first-degree child abuse."
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
A notable detail is the significant delay between the fatal assault/death and charges. The infant was assaulted on Aug. 21, 2023 and died Sept. 22, 2023, but the father was not arrested and arraigned until March 7, 2025 — roughly 18 months later, as reflected in the Detroit News and Wayne County Prosecutor documents dated March 2025.
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