Maximus Williams
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CANDID ID: NC_24_2381
AGE
Infant
STATE
North Carolina
DATE OF DEATH
1/28/2024
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
Maximus Williams, an 8-month-old infant, died on or around January 28, 2024, after Brunswick County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a call about cardiac or respiratory arrest at a home on Heights Place in Leland, North Carolina. The family was living in a camper RV in poverty. The child's mother, Mollie Elaine Fischer, gave inconsistent statements to police about where the infant had been sleeping — first reporting the child was in bed with her, then in a crib, and later claiming the child may have pulled himself from a bassinet and fallen between a dresser and the bed, an account the state deemed inaccurate. A pending autopsy found evidence consistent with asphyxiation but had not yet concluded a cause of death. The child had been born affected by substance use due to medications prescribed to Fischer, prompting prior DSS involvement and the implementation of a safe sleep plan. A search warrant on the RV produced syringes, one containing a white residue sent for testing. Both parents — Fischer and Curtis Matthew Williams — were charged with felony involuntary manslaughter and felony negligent child abuse causing serious bodily 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)?

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)?

The Star News Online article states: "Fischer's child was born affected by substance use due to medications prescribed to Fischer." This is an explicit reference to prenatal substance exposure.

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?

Multiple details in the Star News Online article point to an unsafe sleeping environment. The state representative noted that Fischer gave inconsistent statements about where the infant was sleeping — first saying the child "had been sleeping in the bed alongside her" (co-sleeping) and then saying "the child had been sleeping in a crib beside her bed." Additionally, "DSS involvement with Fischer following the child's birth included a 'thorough safe sleep plan which (Fischer) signed and understood,'" indicating prior concern about safe sleep. The pending autopsy "found evidence consistent with asphyxiation," further supporting the conclusion that the sleeping environment was unsafe.

Individuals Involved

Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?

Was a biological father involved in the death?

The WECT article identifies "Curtis Williams and Mollie Fischer" as "the infant's parents" and states both "were charged in connection to the child's death." The Star News Online article identifies "Curtis Matthew Williams, the father of the child" as also charged. As the biological father, Williams was directly involved through the involuntary manslaughter and negligent child abuse charges.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

Both articles identify Mollie Fischer as the infant's mother. The WECT article states Fischer and Williams are "the infant's parents" and both "were charged in connection to the child's death." The Star News Online article describes Fischer as charged "with felony involuntary manslaughter and felony negligent child abuse causing serious bodily injury in connection with the death of her eight-month-old child."

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)?

The Star News Online article states: "DSS involvement with Fischer following the child's birth included a 'thorough safe sleep plan which (Fischer) signed and understood.'" This indicates the Department of Social Services (child protective services) had involvement with the family following the child's birth, prior to the child's death, constituting a history of child protection reports.

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?

Both articles confirm that the parents were charged. The WECT article states: "Curtis Williams and Mollie Fischer, the infant's parents, both were charged in connection to the child's death on Friday, Feb. 9." The charges include felony involuntary manslaughter and felony negligent child abuse causing serious bodily injury.

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

The Star News Online article states that Fischer's attorney said she "was living in poverty at the time of the incident, residing in a camper RV with her boyfriend and children." Living in a camper RV as a primary residence, described in the context of poverty, implies a housing situation akin to homelessness or temporary/unstable shelter, analogous to "living in car" referenced in the question.

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 Star News Online article states: "Fischer's child was born affected by substance use due to medications prescribed to Fischer," indicating substance use by the mother. Additionally, "A search warrant executed on the RV in which Fischer had been residing produced several syringes, one of which contained a white residue which has been sent for testing," further implying substance use by the caregiver.

Notable Details

Several notable details emerge from the Star News Online article that are not fully captured by the preceding questions: (1) Fischer gave inconsistent statements to police about where the infant was sleeping — first saying the child was in bed with her, then in a crib, then alleging the child may have fallen from a bassinet — which the state called "inaccurate." (2) The state alleged that Fischer instructed one of her children (a witness) on what to say: "the state representative cited a comment allegedly made by one of Fischer's children in a previous interview, indicating that Fischer had instructed the child on what to say." (3) DSS had been involved with the family after the child's birth specifically because the child "was born affected by substance use due to medications prescribed to Fischer," and a safe sleep plan had been implemented. (4) The autopsy was still pending at the time of the March 2024 court hearing and did "not currently conclude a cause of death" but had "found evidence consistent with asphyxiation." These details together suggest possible obstruction, prior child welfare system involvement that failed to prevent the death, and an ongoing investigation with unresolved forensic questions.

Lives Cut Short