On March 29, 2022, River Edge, NJ police responded to a 911 call and found 3-month-old Elliot unresponsive in his home. He was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on April 1, 2022, from complications of acute traumatic injury to the head. His mother, Sun Min "Grace" Yoo Chan, admitted to recklessly hitting Elliot's head against a hard surface, causing a nearly four-inch skull fracture, severe hemorrhage, and brain trauma. The infant had also sustained multiple other injuries between February and March 2022, including a broken femur, broken tibia, and several broken ribs. Elliot was born weighing only three pounds during a high-risk pregnancy and had a vitamin D deficiency that caused rickets disease. Chan was initially charged with first-degree murder but pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter and was sentenced to five 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)
The Yahoo/NorthJersey sentencing article states that Chan admitted to "recklessly hitting Elliot's head against a hard surface while she was alone with him, causing an almost four-inch skull fracture, which resulted in a severe hemorrhage and brain trauma. She also acknowledged other injuries to the infant between February and March 2022, such as a broken femur, a broken tibia and several broken ribs." The Patch article further reports that the prosecutor said Chan "assaulted the infant on multiple occasions in the past and, on March 29, 2022, ultimately caused his death."
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?
The medical examiner report (NJ_22_600.pdf) lists the cause of death as "Complications of Acute Traumatic Injury of Head." The Yahoo/NorthJersey article states Chan admitted to "recklessly hitting Elliot's head against a hard surface while she was alone with him, causing an almost four-inch skull fracture, which resulted in a severe hemorrhage and brain trauma." The prosecutor described the autopsy photo showing "a crack down the middle of the infant's 'softball-sized head'" demonstrating "the absolute force that was exerted on this tiny human being." 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?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Multiple sources confirm that the biological mother, Sun Min "Grace" Yoo Chan, was responsible for the child's death. The Yahoo/NorthJersey article states she "pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter for the death of her 3-month-old son Elliot" and "admitted to 'recklessly' hitting Elliot's head against a hard surface while she was alone with him." The Patch article reports the prosecutor said Chan "assaulted the infant on multiple occasions in the past and, on March 29, 2022, ultimately caused his 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?
The Yahoo/NorthJersey sentencing article states: "He was born weighing only three pounds and had a vitamin D deficiency that caused rickets disease, which made Elliot's bones brittle and more likely to break." A birth weight of three pounds is considered very low birth weight.
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?
Multiple sources confirm Chan was arrested and charged. The PIX11 article states: "Police arrested Sun Min Grace Yoo Chan, an educational counselor, on charges of murder, aggravated assault and child endangerment." The Patch article reports she was charged with "first-degree murder, second-degree aggravated assault, and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child." The Yahoo/NorthJersey article confirms she later "pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter" and was "sentenced to five years in 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
Several notable details emerge from the Yahoo/NorthJersey sentencing article. First, the original charges of first-degree murder were ultimately reduced to reckless manslaughter via a plea deal, resulting in only a five-year sentence for the death of a 3-month-old who suffered multiple broken bones and a fatal skull fracture. Second, Chan received extraordinary community support, with "over 300 letters" submitted on her behalf and a courtroom so packed that "individuals were directed to an additional courtroom and an overflow room." Third, the defense raised a significant medical argument: the infant had rickets disease due to vitamin D deficiency, which "made Elliot's bones brittle and more likely to break," and the child was born weighing only three pounds. Fourth, Chan's husband William started a Change.org petition and argued that doctors had recommended terminating the high-risk pregnancy. The prosecutor countered that "You don't get credit for not aborting your child only to take his life three months later." Additionally, the child Elliot was a twin, and Chan has two other surviving children (the twin and a daughter).
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