Four-year-old Sapphira Washington was brought deceased to the UNC Health Wayne emergency department in Goldsboro on March 2, 2023. An autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined she died of multiple blunt-force trauma, with the manner of death ruled a homicide; she had cuts to her liver and injuries to her spleen. During the investigation, her 5-year-old brother, Umoja Bryant Jr., was found with multiple injuries including cuts to his head and bruises over his body and was treated and released. Their father, Umoja Jihad Bryant, 32, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and intentional child abuse with serious physical injury, and was held without bond. At the time of the death, Bryant was on federal supervised release and was days away from a hearing on a motion to revoke it.
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 CBS17 and WECT articles state the girl died of "multiple blunt-force trauma," and the WRAL article reports "Washington had cuts to her liver and injuries to her spleen, while Bryant Jr. had cuts on his head and bruises all over his body," indicating inflicted injury.
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?
The WRAL article states that Umoja Bryant was "charged with the murder of a 4-year-old girl" who "was her father," and was "arrested Friday for child abuse and murder of his daughter, Sapphira Washington."
Was a biological mother involved in the 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 WECT article states "Umoja Bryant, of Goldsboro, has been charged with first degree murder and two counts of intentional child abuse with serious physical injury," and CBS17 confirms he was "charged on Friday with first-degree murder and child abuse in the death of the 4-year-old girl."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The WRAL article reports that the federal government moved to revoke Bryant's supervised release "citing various charges, including breaking and entering and assaulting a woman," suggesting violence against a woman, though the relationship is not specified.
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?
The WRAL article states Bryant "was found guilty for being a felon in possession of a firearm in January 2022," was "serving a three-year supervised release after his release from prison," and faced charges "including breaking and entering and assaulting a woman" — all predating and separate from the fatal incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The WRAL article describes that Bryant "faced various charges for years, and was days away from going to court on another charge," was on federal supervised release, and the government "filed a motion to revoke Bryant's supervised release" with a hearing scheduled March 21 — highlighting a systemic gap as he remained free despite pending revocation proceedings. It also notes reporters questioned whether DSS had received prior abuse reports.
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