On July 7, 2023, Tiara Allen, 27, of Fowler, New York, was caring for her boyfriend's 5-month-old son, Conway, at their residence on Sand Road in the town of Fowler. Allen became frustrated with the infant's crying and violently shook the child back and forth, also forcefully pushing his legs up during a diaper change. The baby became limp and unresponsive shortly after. Conway was transported to Gouverneur Hospital and then to Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital in Syracuse, where he was diagnosed with Anoxic Brain Injury and Subdural Hematomas. The infant died in August 2023. Allen was initially charged on July 13, 2023, with reckless assault of a child and endangering the welfare of a child. A grand jury later indicted her for murder in the second degree, manslaughter, and additional charges. In January 2025, three days before trial, Allen pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and was sentenced to 14 years in prison plus 5 years of post-release supervision.
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)
Document 1 (lawandcrime.com) contains Allen's signed statement: "I picked him up with both hands and shook Conway back and forth out of frustration and anger." She also admitted that she "forcefully pushed" the baby's legs up during a diaper change. Document 2 (wwnytv.com) states Allen "became frustrated with the baby's crying and began to shake the child, causing a brain bleed."
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?
This is a clear shaken baby case. Document 2 (wwnytv.com) headline reads "Fowler woman takes plea deal in death of shaken baby." Document 1 (lawandcrime.com) states Allen is indicted "for allegedly violently shaking her boyfriend's infant son" and quotes Allen's statement: "I picked him up with both hands and shook Conway back and forth." Document 3 (northcountrynow.com) states the child was "diagnosed with Anoxic Brain Injury and Subdural Hematomas as result of Allen's actions."
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?
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)?
Allen was the boyfriend's girlfriend (female paramour) who was caring for the child at the time. Document 1 (lawandcrime.com) describes her as shaking "her boyfriend's infant son." Document 2 (wwnytv.com) states "Allen was caring for her boyfriend's baby on July 7, 2023, at their home." Allen was charged with and pleaded guilty to crimes related to the child's death.
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?
Document 1 (lawandcrime.com) states: "Cops arrested Tiara K. Allen, 26, on July 13 for reckless assault of a child and endangering the welfare of a child. In addition to those charges, she now faces murder in the second degree, manslaughter in the second degree, and assault in the first degree." Document 2 (wwnytv.com) reports she "pleaded guilty to a felony count of first-degree assault" and "will be sentenced to 14 years in prison."
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
Several notable details emerge. First, Allen took a plea deal three days before trial, pleading guilty to first-degree assault instead of the original murder charge, resulting in a sentence of 14 years in prison plus 5 years post-release supervision (Document 2, wwnytv.com). Second, the child did not die immediately — the incident occurred on July 7, 2023, and the infant died in August 2023, meaning the child survived approximately a month before succumbing to injuries (Documents 2 and 3). Third, Allen provided a detailed, signed first-person statement admitting to her actions (Document 1), which is an unusually candid confession. Fourth, the child was transported from Gouverneur Hospital to Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital in Syracuse and was diagnosed with Anoxic Brain Injury and Subdural Hematomas (Document 3, northcountrynow.com). Finally, Allen's own child was also present at the home during the incident, per Document 1: "Her own son was there too, although his age is not specified."
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