Zhen, a 7-week-old boy, died after suffocating while co-sleeping in a queen-sized bed with his mother Mackenzie Katlyn Reed, his father, and his twin brother in Wilmington, North Carolina, around October 2-3, 2023. The mother had been smoking THC and consuming THC gummies during the day and evening hours leading up to the child's death. The child's father woke around 2 a.m. when the twin brother cried and discovered Zhen face down on the mother's right side with his face in a blanket. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxia due to unsafe sleep environment, with a contributing factor of human rhino/enterovirus infection (common cold). This was the second time one of Reed's children died while co-sleeping with her; her 3-month-old named Justin had died in similar circumstances in 2022 without charges being filed. Reed was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter, child abuse causing serious injury, and child abuse and neglect causing serious physical injury.
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)?
The news article reports that "the mother was smoking THC and using THC gummies during the day and evening" before co-sleeping with the infant. Being impaired by THC while responsible for a 7-week-old and co-sleeping with the child in a queen-sized bed implies inappropriate supervision. The mother was charged with "child abuse and neglect causing serious physical injury," further supporting this characterization.
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?
The news article states that the autopsy report determined Zhen's cause of death was "asphyxia due to unsafe sleep environment." Furthermore, the article details that the 7-week-old was sleeping in a queen-sized bed with the mother, another parent, and his twin, and was found "prone … with (his) face in (a) blanket."
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The news article states the 7-week-old was "sleeping in a queen-sized bed with mother Mackenzie Katlyn Reed, another parent and his twin." Later, the article refers to "The child's father" who "woke up around 2 a.m. and found the infant face down." The father was co-sleeping in the same bed, contributing to the unsafe sleep environment, though only the mother was charged.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The news article explicitly identifies biological mother Mackenzie Katlyn Reed as co-sleeping with the child and being charged with involuntary manslaughter, child abuse causing serious injury, and child abuse and neglect causing serious physical injury. The article also states she "was smoking THC and using THC gummies during the day and evening" before the infant's 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)?
The news article explicitly states: "Reed's 3-month-old, named Justin, died in 2022, the Stars News reported, citing police." This is a separate prior incident from Zhen's death in 2023. The article also quotes the mother as saying "she could not believe that she had done this a second time."
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The news article states: "Reed was charged on March 6 with involuntary manslaughter, as well as child abuse causing serious injury and child abuse and neglect causing serious physical injury, according to jail records."
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 explicitly states: "the mother was smoking THC and using THC gummies during the day and evening" on Oct. 2, 2023, "in the hours leading up to the child's death."
Notable Details
The news article details a significant systemic issue: this is the second child of Mackenzie Reed to die while co-sleeping with her. Her 3-month-old, Justin, died in 2022 under similar circumstances, but "Reed didn't face charges in the 2022 case because there was not enough evidence to prosecute, said the New Hanover County District Attorney's Office." The failure to bring charges or intervene after the first co-sleeping death allowed a nearly identical second death to occur. The mother herself acknowledged the pattern, as a police report reads: "The mother…stated that she could not believe that she had done this a second time." This raises questions about whether systemic intervention after the 2022 death could have prevented Zhen's death in 2023.
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