A 5-year-old girl died of starvation at her home on Elmer Avenue in Schenectady, New York. Her father, 33-year-old Robert Buskey, was charged with second-degree manslaughter and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child after allegedly failing to provide the girl with food and water between April 10th and April 14th. Police responded to the home on a Sunday at 3:00 AM after a man called 911 to report the child was unconscious and not breathing, but the child was already deceased upon arrival. A 3-year-old sibling was also in the home but showed no signs of abuse or neglect. The whereabouts of a woman previously seen living in the home remain unknown.
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?
The news article's headline reads "Schenectady dad charged with manslaughter in child's starvation death." The article further states that "33-year-old Robert Buskey is accused of not providing water and or food to the little girl between April 10th and April 14th." This clearly references starvation and dehydration as the cause of death.
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)?
The news article describes Buskey as "accused of not providing water and or food to the little girl between April 10th and April 14th," a four-day period of sustained deprivation of food and water leading to the child's death. "Sustained deprivation of food or water" and "intentional starvation" are specifically listed as examples of the cruel treatment this question targets. However, the text does not explicitly clarify whether this deprivation was deliberate cruelty or passive neglect, and the manslaughter charge (rather than murder) introduces ambiguity about the characterization of intent.
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 news article identifies Robert Buskey as the child's father: "A Schenectady father is facing a manslaughter charge and endangerment charges for the death of his 5-year-old daughter." He is directly accused of causing her death by failing to provide food and water.
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 news article states: "The father faces charges of manslaughter in the second degree and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child." and "Buskey is currently being held at the Schenectady County Jail." Robert Buskey was charged and jailed 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?
Notable Details
The news article raises several notable unanswered questions that may be relevant to a researcher. Neighbors and the article note that the whereabouts of a woman who lived in the home (presumably the children's mother) are unknown: "all are wondering where the woman in the home is." When CBS6 asked police whether they were "looking for the mom or any other suspects," the question went unanswered. Additionally, the 3-year-old sibling present in the home at the time of death was found alive and "has no indication of abuse or neglect," which raises questions about why the 5-year-old was apparently singled out for deprivation. Police were also asked but could not confirm "if the little girl was restrained" or "if Buskey was intoxicated during the 4 days," questions that remain open as of this article.
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