On October 3, 2023, Wilmington (New Hanover County), NC police responded around 2:30 a.m. to an unconscious, non-breathing infant in the 800 block of Castle Street. The roughly 7-week-old boy, named Zhen, had been co-sleeping in a queen-sized bed with his mother Mackenzie Katlyn Reed, another parent, and his twin brother, and was found prone with his face in a blanket on the mother's right side. The medical examiner ruled the cause asphyxia due to an unsafe sleep environment, with a contributing common cold (rhino/enterovirus) infection, and the manner of death an accident. The mother had reportedly been smoking THC and using THC gummies, and she was later charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse. This was her second child to die while co-sleeping; a prior 2022 death resulted in no charges due to insufficient evidence.
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?
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 medical examiner PDF lists cause of death as "Asphyxia," and the NY Post reports the autopsy determined the cause was "asphyxia due to unsafe sleep environment." The infant was co-sleeping in a queen-sized bed 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 NY Post reports the infant was sleeping "in a queen-sized bed with mother Mackenzie Katlyn Reed, another parent and his twin," and that "the child's father woke up around 2 a.m. and found the infant face down on the mother's right side." The biological father was part of the unsafe co-sleeping environment in which the child died.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Multiple sources state the infant suffocated while co-sleeping with the mother. The StarNews reports "the infant had been suffocated in the night while co-sleeping with Reed," and the NY Post notes the baby was found "face down on the mother's right side." The mother, Mackenzie Katlyn Reed, was charged 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)?
The StarNews reports "Reed had another child who died from co-sleeping in 2022." The NY Post adds that "Reed's 3-month-old, named Justin, died in 2022." This was a separate prior incident.
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The StarNews reports "Mackenzie Katlyn Reed was also charged with intentional child abuse causing serious bodily injury and negligent child abuse... " and involuntary manslaughter. PortCityDaily notes she "is in jail after being arrested Wednesday for felony child abuse."
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 NY Post reports the police report alleged "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
A notable systemic detail is that this was the mother's second child to die under nearly identical co-sleeping circumstances. The NY Post reports "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," and that a police report stated "The mother…stated that she could not believe that she had done this a second time." The infant's surviving twin was also in the bed, and the rhino/enterovirus (common cold) contributed to the death.
These fields were populated by an AI model and may contain inaccuracies. Review the links and PDFs provided for verification before citing. Contact [email protected] to report any inaccuracies where corrections are needed.