Khori Patterson
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CANDID ID: MO_22_1387
AGE
1   year
STATE
Missouri
DATE OF DEATH
8/31/2022
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On August 31, 2022, 21-month-old Khori Patterson of St. Louis, Missouri, fatally shot himself in the head after finding a gun that had been left on a television stand within his reach. His mother, Alea Little (24), and her boyfriend, Donnell Straughter (30), were lying in bed when the toddler crawled out of bed and left the room unsupervised. Minutes later, the mother heard a gunshot and found Khori dead. The mother admitted to police that she knew the gun was where the child could reach it and that neither she nor Straughter had moved it. Both were charged with child endangerment.
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?

The news article explicitly describes a firearm incident: a "21-month-old St. Louis boy found a gun that had been left down on a television stand and fatally shot himself in the head."

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

The article states the mother and her boyfriend "were lying in bed" when the 21-month-old "crawled out of bed" and accessed a loaded firearm. The mother admitted she "knew the gun was where Khori could reach it and neither she nor Straughter moved it." This constitutes inappropriate supervision — allowing a toddler unsupervised access to a loaded firearm.

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 article identifies Alea Little as "the boy's mother" and states she was charged with child endangerment. She admitted she "knew the gun was where Khori could reach it and neither she nor Straughter moved it."

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)?

The article identifies Donnell Straughter, 30, as the mother's "boyfriend" and states he was also charged with child endangerment. The mother said neither she nor Straughter moved the gun.

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 article states "A Missouri couple has been charged with child endangerment" — identifying the mother Alea Little and boyfriend Donnell Straughter as having been charged in connection with 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?

Notable Details

The article notes that the mother explicitly told police she "knew the gun was where Khori could reach it and neither she nor Straughter moved it." This admission is notable because it directly establishes the caregivers' awareness of the danger and conscious inaction, which informed the child endangerment charges rather than accidental death without culpability.

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