A 19-day-old male infant was found blue and unresponsive by his father on the morning of April 9, 2022, after the mother had fed him a bottle of formula around 1:45 AM and placed him in his crib. The parents transported the infant to the hospital in their personal vehicle, where he was pronounced dead at 9:13 AM. An autopsy determined the cause of death was acute cocaine poisoning, with a significant amount of cocaine in the infant's body — described as enough to kill an adult. Cocaine was also found in two baby bottles that the parents had prepared. Both parents denied drug use and had no explanation for the cocaine in the bottles or the infant's system. The official manner of death was ruled homicide. No criminal charges had been filed at the time the report was written, and the law enforcement investigation remained open.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The fatality report states the infant died from "acute poisoning from cocaine" and that "a large amount of cocaine found in the infant's body due to the parents putting cocaine in the infant's milk bottle and the infant ingesting it." Two baby bottles were found to contain cocaine, and the amount in the infant's system was described as "a significant amount and enough to kill an adult."
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)
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?
The fatality report documents a prior SCR report dated 06/18/2021 in which the allegation of Sexual Abuse against the father regarding the mother (then 17 years old) was "Substantiated." The report summary states: "the father forced the mother to have sexual intercourse with him."
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?
The fatality report lists the father (Male, 40 Years) as an "Alleged Perpetrator" and all allegations against him — including DOA/Fatality, Poisoning/Noxious Substances, and Inadequate Guardianship — were substantiated. He is identified as the infant's father in the household composition and was one of the sole caretakers. Cocaine was found in bottles that the parents prepared.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report lists the mother (Female, 18 Years) as an "Alleged Perpetrator" and all allegations against her — including DOA/Fatality, Poisoning/Noxious Substances, and Inadequate Guardianship — were substantiated. She is identified as the infant's mother in the household composition and was one of the sole caretakers. Cocaine was found in bottles the parents prepared.
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)?
The fatality report documents an extensive CPS investigative history within three years prior to the fatality involving the father's other children (siblings of the deceased). Reports dated 02/24/2020, 05/18/2020, 10/30/2020, and 06/18/2021 include allegations of Inadequate Guardianship, Parents Drug/Alcohol Misuse, Sexual Abuse, and other concerns. The 06/18/2021 report was indicated (substantiated). Additional history more than three years prior includes a 2015 court-ordered investigation and a 2017 SCR report.
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?
The fatality report references domestic violence in the family's prior CPS history. The 05/18/2020 SCR report alleged "the father had a history of alcoholism and physical violence toward the siblings' mother in front of the siblings." The 02/24/2020 report alleged "the siblings' mother physically assaulted the father while the father was holding the now 4-year-old sibling." The 06/18/2021 report alleged the father forced the mother to have sexual intercourse with him. Additionally, Domestic Violence Services were provided to the family after the death.
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?
The fatality report notes that in connection with the 2021 CPS investigation, "NCDSS referred the mother for mental health and chemical dependency services," implying mental health concerns existed for the mother at that time. Additionally, following the death, "The parents enrolled in bereavement, mental health, and chemical dependency services."
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report documents multiple references to substance use by the parents. The mother "admitted to using cocaine in the past, with her last time being 7/18/21." The father "had 3-4 shots of liquor" the night before the infant's death. Prior CPS reports alleged "the father forced the mother to use cocaine and alcohol with him" and "the father was an alcoholic." Blood tests in the 2021 investigation "showed a high level of alcohol and cocaine in the mother's system." Chemical dependency services were also provided to the parents after the death.
Notable Details
The fatality report reveals a highly notable prior CPS history: In June 2021, allegations were substantiated that the 40-year-old father forced the then-17-year-old mother to use cocaine and alcohol with him and forced her to have sexual intercourse — constituting substantiated sexual abuse and drug-forcing of a minor. Despite this substantiated finding, the mother (who turned 18) continued residing with the father and had a child with him who subsequently died of acute cocaine poisoning. The report also notes the maternal grandmother was allegedly receiving money from the father and failed to intervene. Additionally, no criminal charges were filed in either the 2021 case or the infant's homicide at the time of the report, and the law enforcement investigation remained open. The amount of cocaine in the infant was described as "a significant amount and enough to kill an adult," yet the parents had no explanation for how cocaine got into the bottles.
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