On January 20, 2022, approximately 3-month-old Zyari Zaki Glapion was found dead in an apartment in St. Louis Park, Hennepin County, Minnesota. His mother, Ashley Bullard, reported she had put her children to sleep the previous evening, took two benzodiazepines, and went to sleep with the baby beside her in her bed. She woke the next morning to find the infant's face covered and unresponsive. The infant was found prone with airway occlusion while swaddled in a blanket on an adult bed. Postmortem toxicology testing detected methamphetamine in the infant's system, and police found methamphetamine and a pipe in the apartment. The mother's blood contained amphetamine, methamphetamine, clonazepam, and alprazolam. The official cause of death per vital records was listed as undetermined with recent methamphetamine exposure, and the manner of death was ruled undetermined, though the fatality report and news article reference positional asphyxiation. The mother, who had an extensive history of methamphetamine addiction, DWI arrests, child neglect, physical abuse of an older child, and repeated child protective services involvement, was charged with second-degree manslaughter.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The vital records document (2022-MN-003352.pdf) states the cause of death as "Undetermined; Recent Methamphetamine exposure" and the injury description includes "methamphetamine detected by postmortem toxicology testing." This is direct evidence of child drug exposure.
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 news article reports that the mother took two "benzos" before going to sleep with the baby in her bed, and her blood draw revealed amphetamine, methamphetamine, clonazepam, and alprazolam in her system. Co-sleeping while under the influence of multiple substances constitutes inappropriate supervision of an infant. Additionally, her son told a social worker "Bullard had been out with friends the night before," potentially leaving young children inadequately supervised.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The fatality report (Minnesota_ZyairGlapion.pdf) states in the Previous History section: "Physical abuse by the mother who beat the oldest child with closed fists." While this pertains to a sibling rather than the decedent Zyair, it constitutes a mention of inflicted injury within the case history.
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?
The fatality report (Minnesota_ZyairGlapion.pdf) states: "History of three arrests for DWI, including at least one with three children in the car." While not a crash, DWI with children in the vehicle constitutes a motor vehicle incident placing children at risk.
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?
Multiple documents describe an unsafe sleeping environment. The vital records (2022-MN-003352.pdf) states: "Decedent was found prone with airway occlusion while swaddled in a blanket and sleeping next to an adult on an adult bed." The news article reports the mother "went to sleep with the baby in bed beside her," and the mother's son found "the baby face down on a pillow in her bed." The fatality report describes Zyair "lying on the bed with his face covered."
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 fatality report (Minnesota_ZyairGlapion.pdf) identifies "Adult Perpetrator: Mother." The news article identifies the mother as Ashley Bullard, who was charged with second-degree manslaughter in connection with the baby'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)?
The fatality report (Minnesota_ZyairGlapion.pdf) documents extensive prior child protection history including: "Neglect – failure to provide shelter free of environmental hazards, failure to ensure the children's education," "Physical abuse by the mother who beat the oldest child with closed fists," and the statement that the mother had a "repeated inability to address her addiction to meth for longer than it took to regain custody of her children." These entries demonstrate a history of child protection reports and involvement prior to Zyair's death.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
The fatality report (Minnesota_ZyairGlapion.pdf) states: "The primary issue was the mother's repeated inability to address her addiction to meth for longer than it took to regain custody of her children." The phrase "regain custody" strongly implies the children had been previously removed from the mother's care, likely into foster care, and subsequently returned.
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 news article states: "Ashley Bullard faces a second-degree manslaughter charge in Hennepin County" in connection with the baby's death.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report (Minnesota_ZyairGlapion.pdf) documents domestic violence in the family history: "Domestic abuse by two of the other sibling's three fathers" and "Domestic abuse by a boyfriend of the mother."
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 fatality report (Minnesota_ZyairGlapion.pdf) states: "History of three arrests for DWI, including at least one with three children in the car." These DWI arrests are prior criminal history predating the child's death and are separate from the manslaughter charge arising from this fatal incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Substance use by the mother/caregiver is extensively documented. The fatality report states: "the mother's repeated inability to address her addiction to meth." The news article reports the mother "took two 'benzos'" before sleep, and a blood draw revealed "amphetamine, methamphetamine, clonazepam, and alprazolam in Bullard's system." Police also "found a rock of suspected methamphetamine and pipe in the master bathroom." The fatality report also notes "History of three arrests for DWI."
Notable Details
There are several notable details. First, there is a significant discrepancy in the official cause and manner of death: the fatality report (Minnesota_ZyairGlapion.pdf) and news article both state the medical examiner found positional asphyxiation as the cause of death, while the vital records (2022-MN-003352.pdf) lists the cause as "Undetermined; Recent Methamphetamine exposure" and manner as "Undetermined," with methamphetamine detected in the infant's postmortem toxicology. This suggests the official determination may have been revised. Second, the fatality report highlights a systemic child welfare failure: "The primary issue was the mother's repeated inability to address her addiction to meth for longer than it took to regain custody of her children," indicating a pattern where the mother would temporarily address addiction to regain custody and then relapse, with the system repeatedly returning children to her care.
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