Akasha Luvert, a 16-month-old girl, died on May 2, 2023, after accidentally ingesting fentanyl while her family was staying at the Knights Inn Motel in Liberty, Sullivan County, New York. Her biological parents, Jimmie Luvert (41) and Lisa Keitt (26), were charged with second-degree manslaughter for allegedly leaving drugs accessible and using drugs while caring for Akasha and her younger sibling, who was also exposed to fentanyl but survived. The child's grandmother, Lisa Fedrico, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child for smoking crack cocaine in the child's presence shortly before the death. Jacob McCoy was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance for allegedly selling the fentanyl to the father. The family had been under child protective services supervision, with multiple reports of parental drug use and inadequate care dating back to Akasha's birth in December 2021, and CPS had reportedly tried to have the children removed on three occasions, but the county attorney's office allegedly refused to initiate removal proceedings.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Document 1 (recordonline.com) states the child died "after exposure to the narcotic drug fentanyl." Document 2 (riverreporter.com) states "Akasha Luvert died on May 2, at one year of age, after an accidental ingestion of fentanyl, among other drugs."
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)?
Document 2 (riverreporter.com) states the parents were charged "for allegedly leaving drugs accessible and for doing drugs while taking care of Akasha and her younger sibling." Document 1 (recordonline.com) also describes the grandmother "smoking crack cocaine in the child's presence shortly before her untimely death." These actions constitute inappropriate supervision of children.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Document 2 (riverreporter.com) states that allegations were made that "the child did not adequate food or care," which is a mention of inadequate food provision. While this was framed as an allegation, the SCDFS did substantiate related allegations of "inadequate guardianship" against the mother.
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)?
Document 2 (riverreporter.com) states: "SCDFS investigated allegations made in December of 2021 when Akasha was born; according to the allegations, her mother tested positive for cocaine upon her birth, with corresponding ill effects upon Akasha." This describes prenatal substance exposure with negative effects on the child at birth. Additionally, the younger sibling "tested positive for cocaine upon birth."
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?
Document 2 (riverreporter.com) states that SCDFS documented visits to the family "attempting to provide information on safe sleeping practices," which implies there were concerns about the sleeping environment that warranted intervention.
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Document 1 (recordonline.com) identifies "Jimmie Luvert, 41" as one of "the girl's biological parents" and states he was "indicted for second-degree manslaughter." It also states that Jacob McCoy "allegedly sold Luvert the fentanyl that caused the overdose death of his daughter." The biological father purchased the fentanyl that killed the child and was charged with manslaughter.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Document 1 (recordonline.com) identifies "Lisa Keitt, 26" as one of "the girl's biological parents" and states she was "indicted for second-degree manslaughter." Document 2 (riverreporter.com) notes the parents were charged "for allegedly leaving drugs accessible and for doing drugs while taking care of Akasha and her younger sibling."
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)
Document 1 (recordonline.com) states: "Lisa Fedrico, 54, who is the child's biological grandmother, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly smoking crack cocaine in the child's presence shortly before her untimely death." The grandmother, an adult relative, was directly involved through her drug use in the child's presence.
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)?
Document 2 (riverreporter.com) describes an extensive history of child protection reports prior to the death. "SCDFS investigated allegations made in December of 2021 when Akasha was born." "Multiple reports were made in the aftermath [of the sibling's birth on January 12] to the state register of child abuse." Another report came on March 20 alleging bruises on the sibling and further drug misuse. Document 1 (recordonline.com) notes that CPS tried to remove the children "on three separate occasions." The OCFS report found that SCDFS casework was "inconsistent in addressing safety concerns" leading up to the 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?
Multiple adults were charged in connection with the child's death. Document 1 (recordonline.com) states Jimmie Luvert and Lisa Keitt were "indicted for second-degree manslaughter." Jacob McCoy was "charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance." Lisa Fedrico was "charged with endangering the welfare of a child." Document 3 (hudsonvalleypost.com) confirms Luvert and Keitt were initially "charged with criminally negligent homicide."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Document 1 (recordonline.com) states the death occurred "while her family was at the Knights Inn Motel on Route 52 in Liberty on May 2." A motel is a form of temporary shelter.
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?
Document 1 (recordonline.com) explicitly states prior criminal histories for multiple individuals: "Luvert has two prior felony convictions and nine prior misdemeanor convictions, while Keitt has a prior misdemeanor conviction." It also states "McCoy has three prior felony convictions and 10 prior misdemeanor convictions" and that grandmother Fedrico "has five prior misdemeanor convictions." These are separate from the current charges arising from the child's death.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Multiple substances are referenced in connection with parent/caregiver use. Document 2 (riverreporter.com) states allegations that "the parents used heroin and crack cocaine while taking care of Akasha" and that the mother "tested positive for cocaine upon her birth." Document 1 (recordonline.com) states the father purchased fentanyl and that the grandmother was "smoking crack cocaine in the child's presence."
Notable Details
Several systemic policy failures are documented. Document 1 (recordonline.com) states that DA Conaty found "Sullivan County Attorney Mike McGuire, who is responsible for the removal of children under Child Protective Services supervision, failed to act when that agency tried to remove the two children from their home on three separate occasions." Document 2 (riverreporter.com) details that SCDFS consulted its legal department on "January 23, 2023, February 6, 2023 and February 24, 2023, regarding a removal of the children and their efforts to do so were denied," though McGuire disputed this account. The OCFS report found that SCDFS casework was "inconsistent in addressing safety concerns" and that the original 2021 birth investigation was "incorrectly determined" to be unfounded. The DA called for the re-institution of the Department of Social Services Legal Department and establishment of a substance use disorder unit, and announced his office would seek minimum five-year sentences for fentanyl sales. Additionally, a drug dealer (Jacob McCoy) was charged with criminal possession for selling the fentanyl to the father, adding a prosecutorial dimension beyond the parents.
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