Steven Serrano III, a one-month-old infant, was found not breathing on October 14, 2020, at his family home in Chimayó, New Mexico. His father, Steven Serrano Jr., admitted during a police interview that he had placed a pillow over the baby's face to muffle his crying and then fell asleep, later waking to find the child unresponsive. The infant was transported to Española Presbyterian Hospital where life-saving efforts failed and he was pronounced dead. Both parents — Serrano Jr. and Athena Savell — were charged with intentional abuse of a child resulting in death. Savell was also suspected of prior physical abuse of the child, including slapping him in the face, shaking him, and jerking him up by the armpit. Savell's charges were later dismissed by the prosecutor, while Serrano's case remained pending.
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)?
Document 1 describes the father placing a pillow over the infant's face and then falling asleep, failing to supervise the child's safety. Additionally, three weeks prior, "Serrano III had fallen on the floor while Savell was asleep and a family relative, Caprice Vigil found the child on the floor and took him outside to Serrano." Both incidents reflect inadequate supervision of the infant.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Document 1 describes multiple inflicted injuries to Steven Serrano III: (1) the father placed a pillow over the baby's face — "Steven contentiously shook his head yes in agreement" when Agent Faulkner stated he "put the pillow over him to muffle the sound"; (2) Savell "smacked Serrano III once in the face, when he grabbed her hair and pulled it"; (3) Savell was seen grabbing the baby "from under the armpit and jerking him up"; and (4) Savell was alleged to have shaken the child. Document 2 confirms: "Serrano later told deputies that he had put a pillow on top of the baby's face because the child was crying."
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?
Document 1 states: "Serrano also allegedly once saw Savell shake Serrano III and ask what was wrong with him." While the text does not use the clinical term "shaken baby syndrome" or "abusive head trauma," the physical act of shaking an infant is described, which is the mechanism underlying shaken baby syndrome.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Document 1 describes the father placing a pillow over the infant's face while the baby was sleeping/crying and then going to sleep himself. Agent Faulkner stated that Steven "put the pillow over him to muffle the sound and then went to sleep," and Steven agreed. Steven also said: "I didn't mean for that to happen, bro, it's not a heavy pillow at all." A pillow on an infant's face constitutes an unsafe sleeping environment.
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Document 1 identifies Steven Serrano Jr. as "the first child's father" and describes how he placed a pillow over the baby's face: "Agent Faulkner then advised that he believed that (Steven) got up, changed him (baby Steven) but he (baby Steven) continued to cry so you (Steven) put the pillow over him to muffle the sound and then went to sleep." Steven agreed. Document 2 confirms: "Serrano later told deputies that he had put a pillow on top of the baby's face because the child was crying." He was charged with intentional abuse of a child resulting in death.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Document 1 states that Athena Savell was charged with "intentional abuse of a child (resulting in death) under 12." The affidavit describes multiple instances of abuse by Savell: she smacked the child in the face, shook him, jerked him up by the armpit, and talked 'bad' to the baby. Document 2 also confirms Savell faced "one count each of intentional child abuse leading to 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?
Both parents were charged with intentional abuse of a child resulting in death. Document 1 states Savell "was charged with intentional abuse of a child (resulting in death) under 12" and that Steven Serrano Jr. "was also charged with intentional abuse of a child (resulting in death) under 12." Document 2 confirms: "22-year-old Steven Serrano Sr. and 19-year-old Athena Savell, both of Chimayo, face one count each of intentional child abuse leading to death. Although Rio Arriba sheriff's deputies arrested Serrano on Thursday..."
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
Document 1 reveals significant systemic concerns. The charges against Savell for Steven Serrano III's death were dismissed by the prosecutor on Jan. 13, 2021, just three months after filing, and she was released from house arrest the day before. Subsequently, a second child (E.L.) in Savell's care died on June 23 under similar circumstances — the child was found not breathing. This sequence raises questions about whether the dismissal of charges and the absence of further child protection intervention contributed to E.L.'s death. Additionally, the interrogation technique used by Agent Faulkner appears to involve leading/suggestive questioning, where the agent stated a narrative of events and the father agreed by nodding, which could be scrutinized for reliability.
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