Cillian Miller
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CANDID ID: MO_22_539
AGE
2   years
STATE
Missouri
DATE OF DEATH
8/17/2022
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
Cillian Miller, a 2-year-10-month-old boy, died on August 17, 2022, from fentanyl intoxication in Kansas City, Missouri. His mother, Michaela Chism, had been staying with her two sons at a residence in the 6500 block of The Paseo for about two weeks. The home was littered with drug paraphernalia including syringes, glass pipes, and foil with burnt residue, and multiple people came and went during their stay. Chism admitted to consuming methamphetamine and fentanyl at the residence. Sometime during the night, Chism noticed that Cillian was not moving, checked on him, and knew he was dead but did not seek help. An anonymous caller reported the death, and when police arrived they found Cillian unresponsive and hard to the touch on a bed, wearing only a green T-shirt and covered by a blanket. A surviving sibling was found alive on the floor. Chism pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child involving drugs and first-degree involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

The medical examiner report (MO_22_539.pdf) lists the cause of death as "Fentanyl intoxication." The news article describes how "the child came across fentanyl" and that "Tests would later show the little boy was yet another victim of the drug ravaging the nation."

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 describes a home environment saturated with drug paraphernalia: "Strewn throughout the home were new and used syringes, glass pipes and 'multiple strips of foil with apparent burnt residue.'" The mother admitted to consuming methamphetamine and fentanyl at the residence, and "multiple (people) came and went from the residence in the two weeks that she stayed there." The child had unsupervised access to fentanyl in this environment, leading to his death.

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 news article identifies the child's mother as Michaela Chism, who admitted to consuming methamphetamine and fentanyl at the residence where the child died. She "pleaded guilty in March to endangering the welfare of a child involving drugs and first-degree involuntary manslaughter. She was sentenced to six years in prison."

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 news article states: "Chism, now 37, pleaded guilty in March to endangering the welfare of a child involving drugs and first-degree involuntary manslaughter. She was sentenced to six years in prison."

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

The news article states: "Chism advised that she and her sons had been staying at the residence on The Paseo for about two weeks." This phrasing indicates the family was not living at their own home but temporarily staying at someone else's residence, suggesting housing instability or a transient living situation.

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?

The news article explicitly states: "Chism stated that people, including herself, consumed controlled substances ... and identified two drugs that she consumed there as methamphetamine and Fentanyl."

Notable Details

Several notable details emerge from the news article. First, the mother discovered that Cillian was dead — "(Cillian) was not responsive and Chism knew that he was dead" — but apparently did not call for medical help or police. Instead, an anonymous caller reported that "a child at the home 'was killed and the child's mother did nothing to prevent it.'" Second, there was a surviving sibling found alive on the floor of the same residence: "The juvenile was alive and carried out of the residence with no apparent injury." Third, the Jackson County prosecutor told The Star she only knew of three child fentanyl deaths and did not know about four others until informed by the newspaper, revealing a systemic gap in death reporting and coordination between the medical examiner's office and the prosecutor. Finally, the article states "There was no public obituary for Cillian Miller," and the only known details about him come from the court affidavit.

Lives Cut Short