Two-month-old Paulie Khan of Barnegat, NJ, died on March 8, 2023, while visiting his mother's partner's father's home on Arden Avenue in Staten Island, NY. The mother (age 30) and her partner (age 36) co-slept with the infant on a full-size bed with no crib available. The adults reported finding the infant unresponsive and blue around 11:00 AM, but medical evidence — including a body temperature of 80 degrees and blood pooling patterns — indicated the infant had been dead much longer than reported and was likely face-down rather than on his back as claimed. Both adults appeared to be under the influence of substances, and law enforcement found a white powder in the bedroom testing positive for oxycodone, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA. Fentanyl was also found on the baby's bottle. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as acute methamphetamine intoxication and the manner of death as homicide. The mother had an open NJ CPS investigation and had stopped cooperating with services one month before the infant's death. No arrests were made in connection with the homicide.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Multiple sources confirm the child died from drug ingestion. The fatality report (NY-23-030.pdf) states the infant's death was investigated as a drug-related fatality. The SILive article states: "The cause of death for Paulie Khan of Barnegat was acute methamphetamine intoxication, according to source with the city Office of the Chief Medical Examiner." The NY Post article states: "He died of 'acute methamphetamine intoxication,' according to the city medical examiner's office." The NY Daily News article adds: "On May 24 the Medical Examiner told police fentanyl was found on the baby's bottle." The NYPD SHR (NYC_2023_841335.pdf) lists the weapon as "Narcotics."
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 fatality report (NY-23-030.pdf) substantiated allegations of "Inadequate Guardianship" against both the mother and parent substitute "based on the concern they were under the influence of an unknown substance at the time of the fatal incident, which impaired their judgement." Hospital staff reported the adults appeared under the influence, and law enforcement found drugs in the bedroom where the infant slept. The adults were impaired while responsible for the infant's care, constituting inappropriate supervision.
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 fatality report (NY-23-030.pdf) explicitly states under "Infants Under One Year Old" that the mother "Used illicit drugs," "Had a positive toxicology at the time of delivery," and "Used marijuana" during pregnancy. It further states the "Infant was born: With a positive toxicology." Additionally, the report notes: "NJ CPS had an open investigation at the time this report was written, dated 12/30/22, due to the infant and mother testing positive for marijuana at the time of the infant's birth" and "CPS learned that the mother tested positive for drugs during her pregnancy with the infant."
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 fatality report (NY-23-030.pdf) explicitly states: "The unsafe sleeping conditions contributed to the infant's death." It further describes: "they co-slept with the infant on a full-size bed," "There was no crib in the home for the infant, so he had been co-sleeping with the adults," and "the parent substitute admitted to falling asleep with the infant cradled in his arm." The mother had previously been "educated on safe sleep guidelines and the dangers of co-sleeping."
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?
The fatality report (NY-23-030.pdf) identifies the mother as an "Alleged Perpetrator" and substantiated allegations of "DOA / Fatality" and "Inadequate Guardianship" against her. The report states the substantiation was "based on the concern they were under the influence of an unknown substance at the time of the fatal incident, which impaired their judgement. Both adults admitted to co-sleeping with the infant."
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)?
The fatality report (NY-23-030.pdf) identifies the "Mother's Partner" (parent substitute), a 36-year-old male, as an "Alleged Perpetrator." Allegations of "DOA / Fatality" and "Inadequate Guardianship" were substantiated against him. The NY Daily News article identifies him as the boyfriend, Jonathan Gardell. The fatality report notes he co-slept with the infant and was observed to be under the influence. Law enforcement found drugs in the bedroom where he and the infant slept.
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 fatality report (NY-23-030.pdf) states: "New Jersey Division of Child and Family had an open investigation at the time of the infant's death, dated 12/30/22, due to the mother and infant testing positive for marijuana at the time of the infant's birth." Additionally, the mother "had extensive CPS history in NJ since 2016" and "had a child removed from her custody in 2017 due to drug misuse and neglect." The parent substitute also had a prior SCR report dated 10/27/16.
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?
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?
The fatality report (NY-23-030.pdf) states: "The parent substitute was awaiting sentencing for drug related charges at the time of the infant's death." The NY Daily News article identifies the boyfriend (Jonathan Gardell) as someone who "two years ago was accused of selling fentanyl pills to an undercover cop." Additionally, the fatality report notes the infant's biological father "was incarcerated for unrelated charges." The mother had "a child removed from her custody in 2017 due to drug misuse and neglect." All of these predate the fatal incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report (NY-23-030.pdf) states: "Hospital staff reported they observed the mother and parent substitute to appear under the influence of an unknown substance in that they were drooling, foaming at the mouth, and had slurred speech." Law enforcement confirmed the adults appeared under the influence and found a white powder testing positive for "Oxycodone, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and MDMA" in the bedroom. The mother tested positive for marijuana at delivery. The parent substitute's parents noted the mother and parent substitute "had a history of drug use." The NY Daily News article identifies Jonathan Gardell as having been previously "accused of selling fentanyl pills to an undercover cop."
Notable Details
Several substantive details not fully addressed by other questions: (1) The fatality report (NY-23-030.pdf) reveals the mother had stopped cooperating with NJ CPS in February 2023, just one month before the infant's death: "the mother stopped cooperating with NJ CPS. She did not answer phone calls or meet with NJ CPS during the month of February 2023, and attempts to locate the mother were unsuccessful." (2) Medical evidence contradicted the adults' account of the infant's position and timeline: "Based on the settling of blood around the child's face, left side of the body and chest, and small hemorrhage by the left eye, it was believed the child was not sleeping on his back as reported and the infant had been deceased longer than reported." The infant's body temperature was 80 degrees, which hospital staff said "would have taken a few hours to occur" and was "inconsistent with the parent substitute's timeline." (3) The parent substitute was remanded to jail after drugs were found in the home during the investigation, but no one was specifically arrested or charged for the homicide. (4) The death created a cross-jurisdictional situation between New York and New Jersey child protective services.
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