Fox William Marshall, a 7-week-old infant, was found in cardiac arrest at his family's home on Bristol Court in Hudson, Wisconsin on the evening of February 4, 2022. He was transported to Children's Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, where doctors discovered head trauma causing a brain bleed, along with fractures to his leg, ribs, and skull. The infant had lost all brain activity and died on February 7, 2022. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by traumatic head and neck injuries from physical assault. The child's father, 37-year-old Paul Marshall, was arrested and charged with 1st-degree reckless homicide and two counts of child abuse. However, after an 11-day trial, jurors found Marshall not guilty on all charges, and the case was dismissed. The mother was also considered a suspect but was never charged, and a babysitter who had cared for the child multiple times in the preceding week was not under investigation.
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 vital record (2022-MN-051262.pdf) lists the Injury Description as "Physical assault" and Cause of Death as "Traumatic head and neck injuries" with Manner of Death as "Homicide." The WEAU article reports the infant "had several fractures, including in the child's leg, ribs and skull" and that "the cardiac arrest was caused by head trauma." The WQOW article states the baby had "deep head trauma resulting in a brain bleed, as well as a broken leg, ribs and skull." These injuries are clearly inflicted.
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?
The vital record lists Cause of Death as "Traumatic head and neck injuries" from "Physical assault" on a 7-week-old infant. The WEAU article states "the cardiac arrest was caused by head trauma" and that the autopsy "ruled the death was caused by traumatic brain injury." The WQOW article reports "deep head trauma resulting in a brain bleed." In the context of a non-mobile infant with head and brain injuries ruled a homicide by physical assault, this constitutes 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?
The WEAU article identifies Paul Marshall as "the infant's father" who was charged with 1st-degree reckless homicide and child abuse. However, the WQOW article reports that "jurors found Paul Marshall not guilty on all charges" and "the case against Paul Marshall was dismissed." He was the primary suspect and was charged, but ultimately acquitted, making his actual involvement in the death uncertain.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The WQOW article states that "the mother was also being considered as a suspect but no charges have been filed." This indicates she was under some level of suspicion regarding the child's death, though no charges were ever brought. Her involvement remains uncertain.
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 WEAU article states that "A warrant was issued for Marshall, the infant's father, who was arrested on Feb. 15 by the Hudson Police Department" and that he was "charged in St. Croix County Circuit Court with 1st-degree reckless homicide, child abuse recklessly causing great bodily harm and child abuse causing a high probability of great bodily harm." He was subsequently acquitted per the WQOW article, but the charge and arrest are documented facts.
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
Several notable details emerge from this case. First, the WQOW article reports that after an 11-day trial, "jurors found Paul Marshall not guilty on all charges" and "the case against Paul Marshall was dismissed." This means the death was officially ruled a homicide by the medical examiner, but no one has been held legally responsible. Second, the case is cross-jurisdictional: the incident occurred in Hudson, Wisconsin (St. Croix County), but the child died at Children's Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota (Ramsey County), creating a situation where the death certificate is filed in Minnesota while criminal charges were filed in Wisconsin. Third, the WQOW article notes that "the mother was also being considered as a suspect but no charges have been filed" and that "the baby had also been left alone with a babysitter several times in the week leading up to his death, but she was not under investigation," indicating multiple potential caregivers had access to the child during the relevant timeframe, complicating the prosecution's case.
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