Ivy House
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CANDID ID: MO_22_28
AGE
4   years
STATE
Missouri
DATE OF DEATH
11/3/2022
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
Ivy House, a 4-year-old girl, was found dead in a Kansas City, Missouri apartment on November 3, 2022, after her mother, Adair R. Fish (age 43), called 911. Fish told dispatchers that one of the two children in the home had been dead for several days and the other was unresponsive. A doctor determined the child died from malnutrition and dehydration, and her weight was only that expected for a 20-month-old. The apartment was found cluttered with trash, debris, and old food, with trash piled 2-5 feet high off the floor. A neighbor who had lived in the same building for two years stated she had never seen the children or Fish. Fish was charged with abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, abuse or neglect of a child (for the surviving child), and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. The child was found dead six days before she would have turned 5 years old.
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)

Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?

Multiple documents explicitly state the child suffered from malnutrition and dehydration. Document 1 (fox4kc.com) states: "A doctor diagnosed that the dead child suffered from malnutrition and dehydration." Document 3 (kctv5.com) states: "a doctor diagnosed that the dead girl suffered from malnutrition and neglect. A doctor stated her weight was the expected amount for a 20-month-old child." The child was 4 years old at the time.

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

While the term "medical neglect" is not explicitly used, the KCTV5 article states "a doctor diagnosed that the dead girl suffered from malnutrition and neglect" and that "her weight was the expected amount for a 20-month-old child" at age 4. A neighbor who lived in the same building for two years stated she never saw the children (Document 1: "I've been here two years and I've never seen the kids"). The severity of the malnutrition and dehydration that led to the child's death, combined with total isolation from the community, strongly implies that no medical care was sought for the child despite her clearly deteriorating condition.

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?

Multiple documents identify Adair R. Fish as the child's mother. Document 2 (wymt.com) refers to her as "the mother, 43-year-old Adair R. Fish." Document 3 (kctv5.com) states: "A Kansas City mother who was charged with child abuse in the death of her 4-year-old daughter." While Document 1 uses the term "legal guardian," the consistent use of "mother" and "her daughter" across sources strongly identifies her as the biological mother who was responsible for the child's death through neglect.

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?

All three documents confirm that Adair R. Fish was arrested and charged. Document 3 (kctv5.com) states: "The mother, Adair Fish was arrested and charged with two counts of child abuse -- one resulting in death and the other resulting in injury -- and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child." Document 1 states she "faces multiple charges including abuse or neglect of a child resulting in 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

Several notable details emerge from the text that materially affect a researcher's understanding. Document 3 (kctv5.com) states that the dead child's "weight was the expected amount for a 20-month-old child," indicating extreme wasting in a child who was nearly 5 years old. Document 3 also notes trash was "2-5 feet high off the floor" in the apartment. Document 1 (fox4kc.com) reports a neighbor who lived in the same building for two years said: "I've been here two years and I've never seen the kids... I have never seen the woman. I have never seen any of them." This indicates complete isolation of the children from the community. Additionally, Fish admitted during the 911 call that "one of the children has been dead for several days" (Document 1), meaning the child's body remained in the apartment for an extended period before help was sought. The surviving child was diagnosed with "neglect, psychological maltreatment, and concern for physical abuse" (Document 1). These details collectively suggest a severe case of prolonged isolation and neglect that went entirely undetected by neighbors or institutions.

Lives Cut Short