On April 5, 2023, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Terrance Bordeaux Sr. was driving three children on Red Hill Road (SR 1700) in Columbus County, North Carolina, when he crossed the centerline, overcorrected, ran off the shoulder, struck a culvert, and the car flipped and came to rest in a ditch. Speed was a factor. Ten-month-old Joseth Hyatt, one of the three children in the vehicle, died the following day at the hospital. Eight-year-old Terrance Bordeaux Jr. was pronounced dead the same day. A 4-year-old girl (Bordeaux Sr.'s daughter) survived with serious injuries. All three children were restrained with car seats and/or seatbelts. Bordeaux was arrested and initially charged with felony child neglect, felony death by vehicle, reckless driving, and driving left of center. He later pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 94 to 125 months in active prison.
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?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
All three documents describe a motor vehicle crash. Document 1 (WWAY) states: "Bordeaux was travelling north on Red Hill Road when he ran off the right side of the road, lost control and overcorrected. He struck a culvert and caused the car to flip." Document 2 (WECT) states: "Bordeaux was driving on SR 1700, crossed the centerline, and overcorrected, running off the shoulder, flipping the car, and coming to rest in a ditch." Document 3 (nrcolumbus) references "The single-vehicle crash happened as Terrance Bordeaux, 32, of Clarkton was driving three children on Red Hill Road."
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?
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)?
The child who died, Joseth Hyatt, has a different last name from the driver Terrance Bordeaux Sr. Document 2 (WECT) identifies the surviving child as "Bordeaux Sr.'s daughter" and the other deceased child as "8-year-old Terrance Bordeaux Jr.," indicating Bordeaux was the biological father of at least two of the three children but not necessarily of Joseth Hyatt. Document 3 (nrcolumbus) states the trooper "said Bordeaux was the father of one of the children," and Document 3 also calls the children "siblings." The combination of a different surname for Joseth Hyatt, the children being described as siblings, and Bordeaux having his own biological children in the car implies a blended family in which Bordeaux was likely a male paramour or partner of Joseth Hyatt's mother rather than Joseth's biological father.
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?
Document 1 (WWAY) states: "Bordeaux was arrested and has been charged with three counts of Felony Child Neglect with Serious Bodily Injury, two counts of Felony Death by Vehicle, Reckless Driving to Endanger and Driving Left of Center." Document 2 (WECT) confirms: "Terrance Jujuan Bordeaux...pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder on June 10, 2024" and "was sentenced to 94 to 125 months in active prison."
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
Document 2 (WECT) notes that "All three children were restrained with car seats and/or seatbelts," indicating the children were properly secured at the time of the crash, and that "speed was a factor in the crash." Additionally, Bordeaux was originally charged with felony child neglect and death by vehicle but ultimately pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder — a significantly more serious charge that in North Carolina vehicular cases typically requires a showing of malice through extreme recklessness. He was sentenced to 94 to 125 months in active prison. The fact that the children were properly restrained yet two still died underscores the extreme nature of the reckless driving.
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