On July 23, 2022, police and EMS responded to a home on the 300 block of Evergreen Avenue in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, at approximately 7:46 p.m. for a report of a 2-year-old girl who was not breathing. The unconscious child was transported to Cooper University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. An investigation determined the child had cocaine and fentanyl in her system, and the medical examiner determined the cause of death to be cocaine, xylazine, and fentanyl toxicity. Drug paraphernalia was found in the home near where the child was located. Walter Clark, 27, of Cherry Hill, was charged with 1st degree aggravated manslaughter, 2nd degree aggravated assault, and 2nd degree endangering the welfare of a child. The manner of death was officially ruled as undetermined by the medical examiner.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The medical examiner report (NJ_22_1067.pdf) lists the cause of death as "Cocaine, Xyalazine and Fentanyl Toxicity." The news article states that "an investigation found the toddler had cocaine and fentanyl in her system." This clearly indicates the 2-year-old child was exposed to and died from drug toxicity.
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)?
The news article states that "drug paraphernalia was found in the home near where the girl was located" and the child died from drug toxicity. A 2-year-old child being in an environment where drug paraphernalia and lethal substances were accessible implies inappropriate supervision. The charge of "2nd degree endangering the welfare of a child" further supports this inference.
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?
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)?
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 news article explicitly states that "Walter Clark, 27, of Cherry Hill, has been charged with 1st degree aggravated manslaughter, 2nd degree aggravated assault and 2nd degree endangering the welfare of a child" and that "Clark is in custody at the Camden County Jail."
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 news article states that "drug paraphernalia was found in the home near where the girl was located." The presence of drug paraphernalia in the home, combined with the child's death from cocaine, xylazine, and fentanyl toxicity, strongly implies substance use by the adult caregiver (Walter Clark) in the home.
Notable Details
There is a notable discrepancy between the medical examiner's ruling and the criminal charges. The medical examiner report (NJ_22_1067.pdf) lists the manner of death as "Undetermined," yet the news article reports that Walter Clark was charged with "1st degree aggravated manslaughter." Additionally, the medical examiner report lists xylazine (spelled "Xyalazine") as a contributing substance in the cause of death — a veterinary tranquilizer commonly found as an adulterant in illicit street drugs — which was not mentioned in the news article's reporting.
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