Carson Haynes was born on December 6, 2023, in Cozad, Nebraska, to Draven Haynes and Jasmine Hopkins. At the end of January 2024, the infant suffered severe burns for which his mother failed to seek medical treatment. On February 14, 2024 (Valentine's Day), his father slammed him to the ground while the baby was crying. Cozad Police responded to a report of an unresponsive infant who had gone into cardiac arrest and required a breathing machine. A CT scan revealed brain bleeding, broken ribs, and burn marks. Carson was transported to Children's Hospital in Omaha, where he died on March 7, 2024, after life support was ended, having lived 92 days. An autopsy determined his death was due to blunt force head injuries. Draven Haynes pled guilty to Felony Child Abuse resulting in death and was sentenced to 70-100 years imprisonment. Jasmine Hopkins was convicted of Felony Child Abuse resulting in injury and is serving 3-5 years in 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)
Both sources describe the fatal inflicted injury. The nebraska.tv article states Haynes is "accused of slamming a three-month-old boy to the ground when he was crying on Valentine's Day." The ruralradio.com article states "Mr. Haynes acknowledged slamming Carson to the ground, while Carson was crying." Additionally, the child suffered severe burns and broken ribs.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The nebraska.tv article states that the infant's mother, Jasmine Hopkins, "is accused of not taking her baby to the hospital for severe burns." This constitutes medical neglect. The ruralradio.com article corroborates that "Carson incurred severe burns at the end of January 2024" and that Hopkins was convicted of child abuse resulting in injury.
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?
The ruralradio.com article states "the autopsy indicated that his death was due to blunt force head injuries" from being slammed to the ground. The nebraska.tv article notes "brain bleeding" was found. This constitutes 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 ruralradio.com article explicitly identifies the child as Haynes' son: "A 24-year-old Cozad man will serve from 70 years to 100 years imprisonment in the death of his infant son, Carson Haynes." Draven Haynes, the biological father, is the one who fatally injured the child by slamming him to the ground.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The biological mother, Jasmine Hopkins, was involved in the child's death through medical neglect. The nebraska.tv article states she "is accused of not taking her baby to the hospital for severe burns." The ruralradio.com article confirms "Carson's mother, Jasmine Hopkins, is serving 3 to 5 years in prison after being convicted of Felony Child Abuse resulting in injury of her three-month-old son."
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?
Both documents confirm that Draven Haynes was charged and convicted. The ruralradio.com article states "Draven Haynes had previously pled guilty to Felony Child Abuse resulting in death" and was sentenced to 70-100 years. The nebraska.tv article reports charges were filed against both Haynes and Hopkins. The ruralradio.com article also confirms Hopkins "is serving 3 to 5 years in prison after being convicted of Felony Child Abuse resulting in injury."
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?
The ruralradio.com article states that "Judge Patrick Heng told Haynes that among his considerations were information in the presentence report, Haynes' I.Q. and history of trauma." The specific mention of Haynes' IQ as a sentencing consideration implies it was a relevant mitigating factor, suggesting it may have been notably low, though no specific diagnosis of intellectual disability is stated.
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The ruralradio.com article states that Defense Attorney Ken Harbison told the judge that Haynes had "severe trauma growing up", was "subjected to abuse and in the foster care system." The judge also noted "Haynes' I.Q. and history of trauma" as sentencing considerations. While no specific mental health diagnosis is named, the references to severe trauma history and its use as a mitigating factor in sentencing imply mental health relevance.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The ruralradio.com article contains notable details about the perpetrator's background: Defense Attorney Ken Harbison told the judge that Haynes had "severe trauma growing up", was "subjected to abuse and in the foster care system." The judge considered "Haynes' I.Q. and history of trauma" in sentencing. This intergenerational cycle of abuse — where a former foster child with a history of being abused himself became the perpetrator of fatal child abuse — is a substantive detail relevant to researchers studying child welfare system outcomes and risk factors.
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