On June 9, 2022, the two-month-old male child was in the sole care of his 27-year-old father while his mother was away from home. The child became fussy, and the father grew frustrated. In response, the father threw the child headfirst into his crib headboard, choked him (hearing at least two bones break), shook him, threw him onto the floor, and then jerked him upright by his feet. The father initially told the mother he had fastened the child's car seat too tightly. Emergency services were called, and the child was transported to the hospital and placed on life support in the pediatric intensive care unit with catastrophic injuries including anoxic brain injury, subdural bleeding, parietal skull fracture, and bilateral retinal hemorrhages. The child failed two brain death tests and succumbed to his injuries on June 16, 2022. The father was indicted on charges of murder in the 2nd degree, manslaughter in the 1st and 2nd degrees, and endangering the welfare of a child.
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 fatality report explicitly describes the father's actions: "SF admitted to inflicting the injuries. LE provided LCDSS with SF's deposition and it noted that on 6/9/22, SC was fussy which had caused SF to become frustrated. SF reported to LE that in response, he threw SC headfirst into his crib headboard, choked him and heard 'at least two' bones break, shook SC, threw him onto the floor and then 'jerked him upright' by his feet."
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 fatality report states the father "shook SC" and the child was diagnosed with "hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy due to a brain injury," "dense sub-retinal hemorrhages in both eyes and retinoschisis in the left eye," "subdural bleeding with sheering of bridging veins," and "parietal skull fracture." These are classic findings of abusive head trauma / shaken baby syndrome, and the shaking is explicitly described.
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 identifies the father (27-year-old male) as the alleged perpetrator in the household composition. The report consistently refers to him as "SF" (Subject Father) and states "the father was the sole caretaker of the subject child" and that "the father had inflicted the fatal injuries to the child by throwing, strangling, and shaking him." Although the abbreviation "BF" (Biological Father) is not explicitly used, the household composition lists only a mother and father for this 2-month-old child, strongly implying the father is the biological father.
Was a biological mother involved in the 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?
The fatality report states: "SF was indicted on murder in the 2nd degree, manslaughter in the 1st and 2nd degree, and endangering the welfare of a child." Additionally, "On 6/9/22, LE informed LCDSS that SF was arrested and charged with reckless assault."
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?
The fatality report states that "BM was engaged in mental health counseling by the close of the investigation" and that "she already established a mental health counselor through the hospital." While this is post-incident grief/bereavement counseling rather than a pre-existing mental health condition, it constitutes a reference to mental health services for a parent/caregiver.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The fatality report identifies a casework practice compliance issue: "Approximately half of the progress notes were entered more than one month past their event dates," resulting in a required Program Improvement Plan (PIP). Additionally, LCDSS filed an Article 10 severe abuse petition but "the date on which this was filed was not noted," reflecting further record-keeping deficiencies. Law enforcement also reported that the father initially provided "several different stories as to what happened to SC, including what he had told BM involving a car seat" before eventually admitting to inflicting the injuries.
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