Joseph Adonis
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CANDID ID: NY_24_1392
AGE
1   year
STATE
New York
DATE OF DEATH
1/3/2024
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On January 3, 2024, 14-month-old Joseph Adonis was found unresponsive in his parents' bedroom in their Holbrook, Long Island home from a suspected drug overdose. He was rushed to Stony Brook University Hospital but did not survive. Toxicology results revealed the presence of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin (morphine) in his blood. Investigators found narcotics—including a heroin/fentanyl mixture, cocaine, alprazolam, and methadone—along with drug paraphernalia, digital scales, drug packaging materials, a loaded shotgun, a rifle, and a stun gun, all lying in the open and easily accessible to the toddler and his 11-year-old sibling. A DNA swab from a drug package showed traces of the toddler's DNA. His parents, Wilkens Adonis and Daryllee Leibrock (both 38), were initially charged with drug and weapons offenses and child endangerment, and later indicted on second-degree manslaughter charges for recklessly causing their son's death. The mother admitted to a $50-a-day cocaine habit and was also violating a restraining order that barred her from being around either child.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Both documents explicitly describe a child drug overdose. Document 1 (NBC) states: "a 14-month-old boy died in what is believed to have been a fentanyl overdose" and "Preliminary toxicology results for the child's blood show the presence of cocaine, fentanyl, morphine." Document 2 (NY Post) states: "Fourteen-month-old Joseph Adonis died from an overdose due to ingesting a cocktail of heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl." Additionally, "A DNA swab taken from one of the drug packages showed traces of the toddler's DNA."

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 (NY Post) states: "Everything was lying in the open, easily accessible to the little boy and his 11-year-old sibling." The drugs and paraphernalia were found in the same room the child was in, and a DNA swab from a drug package showed traces of the toddler's DNA. This indicates a failure to appropriately supervise the child and secure dangerous substances, constituting inappropriate supervision.

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?

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?

Individuals Involved

Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?

Was a biological father involved in the death?

Document 1 (NBC) identifies "Joseph's father, Wilkens Adonis" as being charged with drug charges and child endangerment. Document 2 (NY Post) states that the father was indicted on manslaughter charges as "the defendants are now alleged to have recklessly caused the death of their son, Joseph Adonis." The shared surname and use of "their son" confirms he is the biological father.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

Document 1 (NBC) identifies "The boy's mother, Daryllee Leibrock" who also pleaded not guilty and admitted to a cocaine habit. Document 2 (NY Post) states both parents were indicted on manslaughter charges for "recklessly caus[ing] the death of their son." The use of "their son" and "the boy's mother" confirms she is the biological mother.

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)?

Document 2 (NY Post) states: "Leibrock also faced criminal contempt charges, as she violated a restraining order that was supposed to bar her from being around either child." The existence of a restraining order barring the mother from being around both children predates the fatal incident and strongly suggests prior child protection or court involvement regarding the children's safety, though the text does not explicitly mention CPS reports.

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 2 (NY Post) states: "Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced a superseding indictment that formally charged the Holbrook couple in the child's death" and "The pair were arraigned Monday on the new charges, which include second-degree manslaughter." Both parents, Wilkens Adonis and Daryllee Leibrock, were charged with manslaughter 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?

Document 1 (NBC) states: "Both had prior pending criminal cases and their latest arrest violated the terms of those other cases." Document 2 (NY Post) adds: "At the time of their arrest, both parents had failure to appear warrants after missing court dates for misdemeanor drug charges." Document 2 also notes: "Leibrock also faced criminal contempt charges, as she violated a restraining order that was supposed to bar her from being around either child." These prior cases predate the child's death.

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Document 1 (NBC) states: "Prosecutors said she told police she has a $50-a-day cocaine habit and admitted the cocaine found in the room was hers." Document 2 (NY Post) reports narcotics and paraphernalia found throughout the home, including heroin/fentanyl mixture, cocaine, alprazolam, methadone, and drug packaging materials, attributable to the parents.

Notable Details

Several notable details emerge from these documents. First, the mother Daryllee Leibrock was violating a restraining order that was "supposed to bar her from being around either child" (NY Post), meaning she was not legally permitted to be in the home with the children at the time of death. Second, Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney and County Executive Ed Romaine used this case to advocate for stricter drug laws, with Romaine stating: "you'd have to possess enough fentanyl to kill 114,000 people before you could be held for bail" (NBC). Third, the NY Post article notes that "it was only the addition of the manslaughter charge that let prosecutors ask for bail in this case," highlighting a structural gap in bail law. Fourth, a DNA swab from one of the drug packages showed traces of the toddler's DNA, providing direct forensic evidence of the child's contact with the drug packaging materials.

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