A 4- to 5-month-old baby boy was being watched by 24-year-old Diamond F. Keen while the child's mother recovered from a shoulder injury. On August 7, 2023, Keen called the mother saying the baby had gotten wrapped up in a cover and couldn't breathe, and she called an ambulance. The baby was transported to Children's Hospital, where he died the following day, August 8. An autopsy revealed numerous head injuries, and the medical examiner ruled the cause of death as blunt force trauma, classifying it as a homicide. The baby was also found to have bronchopneumonia. When confronted with the autopsy findings showing closed head trauma from shaking, Keen told police she shook the baby trying to get him to breathe, but police stated the shaking she described would not have been sufficient to cause the injuries observed. Keen was charged with abuse 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 "An autopsy of the child shows numerous head injuries" and that "Medical examiners listed the cause of death as blunt force trauma and ruled the death a homicide." The article further describes that when confronted with autopsy findings, Keen admitted to shaking the baby, and police noted "the shaking she described would not have been sufficient to cause the injuries found by the medical examiner," indicating inflicted injury beyond what Keen admitted.
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?
The news article explicitly states that "the baby died from closed head trauma from shaking" based on autopsy findings. The headline itself references "shaking baby, causing death," and the child was found to have "numerous head injuries." This is a clear case of shaken baby / 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 child's mother "recently sustained a shoulder injury and Keen was watching the child for the past two days." Keen was serving as a babysitter/caretaker for the child and is charged with causing the child's 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: "Circuit attorneys charged 24-year-old Diamond F. Keen with a single count of abuse of a child resulting in death, a class A felony." It also states: "Court records show she was arrested Tuesday and is currently in custody without the possibility of bond." And: "Defendant was placed under arrest at that time."
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 a notable medical finding: "The baby was also found to have bronchopneumonia, a respiratory illness." This pre-existing respiratory condition was present alongside the fatal head trauma. Additionally, police explicitly noted that "the shaking she described would not have been sufficient to cause the injuries found by the medical examiner," indicating the force used was greater than what Keen admitted to, undermining her claim that she shook the baby only to get him to breathe.
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