A 5-month-old female in Suffolk County, New York, died on March 25, 2022, while co-sleeping with her mother on a pull-out couch. The father returned from work around 6:00 AM and found the child face-down and unresponsive with blue lips. An EMT found an unidentified object (possibly a nicotine pouch) blocking the child's airway during resuscitation efforts. The child was pronounced deceased at 7:59 AM. At the time of the child's death, the family had an open preventive services case and the mother was under a court order allowing only supervised contact with the child due to her substance abuse history. Both the mother and child had tested positive for cocaine and marijuana at birth. The mother had relapsed in February 2022 and tested positive for illegal substances on March 19 and March 22, 2022. Despite court orders, the maternal grandparents—who had agreed to supervise the mother's contact with the child—allowed the mother to be unsupervised with the child overnight for weeks. The final autopsy report determined the cause of death was cocaine intoxication, and the case was referred to the homicide unit.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The fatality report states: "At time of incident leading to death, had child used alcohol or drugs? Yes." Furthermore, the report notes: "SCDSS received the final autopsy report which listed the cause of death as cocaine intoxication." This directly establishes child drug ingestion resulting in death.
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 states: "SCDSS determined the father was aware of the mother's recent relapse, that the mother was regularly co-sleeping with the child, and that the grandparents were not adequately supervising the mother and child overnight while he was at work." The grandparents also "allowed the mother and child to be unsupervised overnight for a period of weeks, despite awareness of the mother's relapse," in violation of a court order requiring supervised contact only. Allegations of Lack of Supervision were substantiated against the father, and Inadequate Guardianship was substantiated against all adult household members.
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 states under the Infants Under One Year Old section: "During pregnancy, mother: Used illicit drugs" and "Infant was born: Drug exposed." The prior CPS report summary also states: "the SM and SC tested positive for cocaine and marijuana at the time of delivery and the SC exhibited withdrawal symptoms as a result."
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 describes the child co-sleeping with the mother: "put the baby to sleep on the mother's chest, where she was sleeping on a pull-out couch in the living room with a sheet, blanket, and 2 pillows." Both parents acknowledged being "educated regarding safe sleep by the hospital at the child's birth, and by multiple caseworkers" but "had a bassinet and a crib for the child but were not utilizing either due to the child's fussiness." SCDSS also "determined the mother was aware of the dangers of co-sleeping with the child."
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The fatality report identifies the father as an alleged perpetrator in the household composition. Allegations of DOA/Fatality, Inadequate Guardianship, and Lack of Supervision were all substantiated against him. The report states: "SCDSS determined the father was aware of the mother's recent relapse, that the mother was regularly co-sleeping with the child, and that the grandparents were not adequately supervising the mother and child overnight while he was at work."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report identifies the mother as an alleged perpetrator. Allegations of DOA/Fatality, Inadequate Guardianship, and Parents Drug/Alcohol Misuse were all substantiated against her. The report states: "SCDSS determined the mother was aware of the dangers of co-sleeping with the child, was in violation of a court order stipulating that she not consume drugs or alcohol while caring for the child, and was in violation of a court order that she was to stay away from the child except for visitation supervised by approved supervisors." The cause of death was cocaine intoxication while the child was in the mother's care.
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)
Both maternal grandparents (male, 64 years and female, 64 years) are listed as alleged perpetrators. The fatality report states: "The allegations of DOA/Fatality and Inadequate Guardianship were substantiated against both grandparents. SCDSS determined the grandparents were aware of the court order that the mother could not be unsupervised with the child, and had signed an agreement that they understood the need for, and agreed to provide, such supervision. The grandparents allowed the mother and child to be unsupervised overnight for a period of weeks, despite awareness of the mother's relapse."
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 a prior SCR report dated 10/24/2021 which "alleged the SM and SC tested positive for cocaine and marijuana at the time of delivery and the SC exhibited withdrawal symptoms as a result." That report was indicated on 12/16/2021 with substantiated allegations of Inadequate Guardianship and Parents Drug/Alcohol Misuse against the mother. Additionally, a CPS case and preventive services case were both open at the time of the child's death.
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?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report extensively documents the mother's substance abuse. It states the mother "tested positive for illegal substances on 3/19/2022 and 3/22/2022 and was only sporadically engaged with her treatment." All home members reported "being aware that the mother had relapsed in February 2022." The mother and child tested positive for cocaine and marijuana at birth, and the mother continued to test positive for cocaine during her treatment. An allegation of Parents Drug/Alcohol Misuse was substantiated against the mother.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the fatality report. First, while the initial investigation focused on co-sleeping/suffocation as a possible cause of death, the final autopsy report revealed the cause of death was cocaine intoxication, after which "SCDSS spoke with law enforcement at that time and learned the investigation had been referred to the homicide unit." Second, an EMT reported finding an object blocking the child's airway described as "a soft white object covered by a layer of thin, white paper" that the EMT believed "could have been a nicotine pouch," but this object "was discarded during the events of the emergency response to the home and was not identified or found by any other first responders." Third, a compliance issue was identified: "SCDSS made only 1 face-to-face contact with the family for the month of February, 2022" when the regulation requires at least two. Fourth, Suffolk County does not have an OCFS-approved Child Fatality Review Team. These details highlight how the cause of death shifted from a suspected unsafe sleep incident to a drug intoxication case, and reveal gaps in monitoring compliance with court orders.
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