A two-month-old girl, identified as D.S., was found dead on November 14, 2022, in her parents' Independence, Missouri apartment. She had been born at home on August 28, 2022, without medical supervision, weighed 7 lbs 8 oz at birth, and had never seen a doctor or received immunizations. At the time of death, she weighed only 5 lbs 9 oz and was severely emaciated, with ribs and collarbone protruding through her skin. The cause of death was chronic protein calorie malnutrition and dehydration. Her parents, Austen M. Taube Hack (age 19) and Sarah M. Stone (age 20), had kept the child completely isolated — never allowing visitors or taking her outside the apartment. Neither parent reported believing the child was sick or unhealthy. Both parents were charged with felony abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death. A search warrant at the residence also revealed concentrated THC and a hallucinogenic mushroom grow operation.
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?
The medical examiner report lists the cause of death as "Chronic protein calorie malnutrition and dehydration." The news article corroborates this, stating the baby "appeared extremely malnourished and emaciated" and that "the Victim's ribs and collarbone were protruding through her skin." She weighed 5 lbs, 9 oz at death compared to her birth weight of 7 lbs, 8 oz.
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The news article states that the parents "said the baby had never received any immunizations or seen a doctor" and that Stone "had delivered the child inside their apartment on Aug. 28 without any medical supervision." The child was born at home with no medical assistance and never received any medical care for the entirety of her short life, constituting clear 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?
The news article identifies Austen M. Taube Hack as the father of the child. The prosecutor's press release identifies the defendants as "The mother and father of a 10-week old child." Both parents were charged with Abuse or Neglect of a Child Resulting in Death.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The news article identifies Sarah M. Stone as the mother who "had delivered the child inside their apartment on Aug. 28 without any medical supervision." The prosecutor's press release identifies the defendants as "The mother and father of a 10-week old child." Both parents were charged with Abuse or Neglect of a Child Resulting in Death.
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 that "Austen M. Taube Hack, 19, and Sarah M. Stone, 20, are each charged with a single count of abuse and neglect of a child resulting in death." The prosecutor's press release confirms this, stating each faces "the A felony charge of Abuse or Neglect of a Child -- Resulting in Death." Both were in the custody of Independence police.
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?
The news article states that during a search warrant executed at the residence, "detectives reported finding concentrated THC, the chemical found in marijuana, and an apparent 'grow operation of illegal hallucinogenic narcotic mushrooms.'" While the text does not explicitly say the parents were using these substances, the presence of concentrated THC and an active mushroom grow operation in the parents' apartment strongly implies substance use by the caregivers.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the sources. First, the child was born at home on August 28 "without any medical supervision," and the parents reported the baby "had never received any immunizations or seen a doctor" (news article). Second, the father told detectives "they did not allow anyone to visit the child at their home and never brought her out of the apartment because 'the world is a scary place'" (news article), indicating extreme social isolation. Third, a search warrant revealed "concentrated THC" and "an apparent 'grow operation of illegal hallucinogenic narcotic mushrooms'" in the apartment (news article). Fourth, when the baby was found unresponsive, the parents "attempted to perform CPR after conducting a Google search on how to do so" (news article). Fifth, despite the child's visibly emaciated state (ribs and collarbone protruding, having lost almost 2 pounds from her birth weight), "neither told police they thought she was sick or unhealthy at any point before her death" (news article). Finally, the medical examiner ruled the manner of death as "Could not be determined" despite the cause being chronic protein calorie malnutrition and dehydration, which is notable given that both parents were charged with felony child abuse resulting in death.
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