An 8-month-old girl in Perryville, Missouri was left in the care of a female roommate, Blanca Marisela Mendez Ramirez (23), while the mother went out and the father was at work. Ramirez admitted to dropping and throwing the child out of frustration when the child wouldn't stop crying, then placed the child in a bouncy seat and left her alone for 15-20 minutes without seeking medical attention. When the father returned home about an hour after the mother left, he found the child unresponsive and took her to a Perry County hospital where she was resuscitated. The child was transferred to a St. Louis hospital and died from her injuries on or around March 28, 2022. Ramirez was charged with abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death.
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 news article states that "Ramirez admitted to officers that she dropped and threw the child out of frustration when the child wouldn't stop crying." The child's injuries included "multiple head trauma, possible bruising on the back, buttocks and petechiae."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The news article states that Ramirez "put the child in a bouncy seat in the parents' bedroom, leaving the child alone for 15-20 minutes without trying to seek medical attention" after dropping and throwing the child. This failure to seek medical care after inflicting injury can be construed as a form of medical neglect, and the charge itself is "abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death."
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 news article describes "multiple head trauma" among the child's injuries, and the child was dropped and thrown by the caregiver. While the specific term "abusive head trauma" or "shaken baby syndrome" is not used, the mechanism of injury (being thrown) and the resulting "multiple head trauma" strongly imply 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?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
The news article states that "the baby's mother left the child with a female roommate until the father returned home from work." Ramirez was functioning as a babysitter for the child and was directly responsible for the child's fatal injuries.
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
The news article identifies the suspect as a "female roommate" of the child's parents. The roommate relationship could reasonably be categorized as a female friend who was involved in the child's death.
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 news article states that "Blanca Marisela Mendez Ramirez, 23, was charged with abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death" and that "She was arrested and taken to the Perry County Sheriff's Office to await her court date or until her bond is posted."
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 news article notes that police interviewed the suspect "with the assistance of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officer to translate," suggesting the suspect may have been a non-English-speaking immigrant. This detail is notable as it raises questions about potential language and communication barriers in the caregiving arrangement, and the involvement of ICE in a child abuse case adds a dimension not addressed by the preceding questions.
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