unnamed boy
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CANDID ID: NY_22_2210
AGE
Infant
STATE
New York
DATE OF DEATH
5/5/2022
MEDIA
Not Available
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On the evening of May 4, 2022, a 2-month-old male was placed to sleep in an adult bed with both parents, propped on a pregnancy pillow, as the child had been fussy following immunizations received at a well-visit that day. The twin sibling slept separately in a portable crib. Around 9:00 AM on May 5, the mother found the child on his side, blue, not breathing, and with liquid blood at the base of his nose. The father performed CPR at the direction of a 911 dispatcher, and EMS transported the child to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 9:52 AM. The medical examiner preliminarily determined the death was caused by co-sleeping. Allegations of Inadequate Guardianship and DOA/Fatality were substantiated against both parents due to the unsafe sleep environment.
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)

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 CPS report (11/06/2021) alleging that "the paternal grandfather of the half sibling had sexually abused him." The allegation was unsubstantiated after a forensic interview; however, the OCFS review noted: "The mother did disclose multiple instances of the half sibling acting out inappropriately by touching or attempting to touch the other children on their private parts." While the formal sexual abuse allegation was unsubstantiated, the documented sexually inappropriate behavior by the half-sibling indicates concerning sexual conduct did occur, though its connection to abuse remains unclear.

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 explicitly and repeatedly documents an unsafe sleeping environment. The executive summary states: "both parents put the subject child in danger of serious harm when they placed the subject child in the adult bed with blankets, pillows, and the two parents, and noted that unsafe sleep environment contributed to the death of the subject child." Additionally, WCDSS found that the parents routinely placed both twins "in a single portable crib, each on their own nursing pillow," and observed a separate nursery with "two cribs, both of which were filled with blankets, pillows, and other items, and neither of which appeared to have been used."

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 as an "Alleged Perpetrator" in the household composition and the allegations of Inadequate Guardianship and DOA/Fatality were substantiated against him. He co-slept with the child and placed the child in the adult bed. The report states he is the father of both the deceased child and the twin sibling.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

The fatality report lists the mother as an "Alleged Perpetrator" in the household composition and the allegations of Inadequate Guardianship and DOA/Fatality were substantiated against her. She co-slept with the child in the adult bed. The executive summary states: "both parents put the subject child in danger of serious harm when they placed the subject child in the adult bed with blankets, pillows, and the two parents."

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 three prior CPS reports within three years involving the family. The 11/06/2021 report involved the 4-year-old half-sibling with allegations including sexual abuse, inadequate guardianship, lacerations/bruises/welts, and parents' drug/alcohol misuse against multiple family members. The 08/10/2020 report involved the half-sibling with allegations of inadequate food/clothing/shelter, inadequate guardianship, lack of supervision, and parents' drug/alcohol misuse. The 11/12/2019 report involved the half-sibling with similar allegations. All three prior reports were unfounded.

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 references substance use by the mother in connection with prior CPS investigations. The 11/12/2019 report summary states: "WCDSS learned that the maternal grandmother of the 2yo half sibling petitioned for and was granted custody of that child due to her own concerns for the mother's substance abuse" and "WCDSS verified the mother had engaged with substance abuse treatment." Additionally, the 11/06/2021 report alleged "the mother and other adults would become impaired by alcohol, crack cocaine, and heroin, while the sole caretakers of the half sibling." Multiple prior reports contained "Parents Drug / Alcohol Misuse" allegations.

Notable Details

The fatality report identifies a significant compliance failure in a prior CPS investigation. During the 11/06/2021 investigation, WCDSS was aware the mother was pregnant with twins but failed to provide safe sleep education. The report states: "The record reflected WCDSS was aware the mother was pregnant with twins; however, WCDSS did not document a conversation regarding safe sleep information/education during the investigation." This was cited as a compliance issue with a required action. Additionally, WCDSS found that the parents had received safe sleep education at pediatric well visits but nonetheless routinely placed both twins in a single portable crib on nursing pillows, and had prepared a nursery with two cribs that were filled with blankets, pillows, and other items and appeared never to have been used. The parents also provided conflicting accounts of the sleeping arrangement—the father reported the child was propped in the mother's arm while the mother reported the child was propped on a pregnancy pillow—raising questions about the exact circumstances at the time of death.

Lives Cut Short