On September 24, 2023, 20-month-old Dimitri W. Luton was found unconscious and not breathing in a bedroom at an apartment in the Trumbull Homes in Warren, Ohio. His mother, Aris Rice, reported that he had been vomiting since the previous evening. Toxicology tests revealed methadone in the child's system — his mother's prescription medication from a take-home program through Meridian Health Care. The medication was supposed to be stored in a locked container with a passcode, but it was left accessible. The child was transported to Akron Children's Hospital, where he died on October 1, 2023, from anoxic brain injury caused by drug overdose. Rice was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangering and sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Multiple sources confirm the child ingested methadone. The medical examiner report (OH_23_385.pdf) lists "Method of Death: Drug Overdose." The tribtoday.com sentencing article states the child "died from consuming a liquid medication." The wfmj.com indictment article states the child "ingested his mother's prescription methadone."
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)?
The tribtoday.com sentencing article reports that the mother's methadone doses "were required to be kept inside a locked container with a passcode chosen by Rice. Otherwise, Barber said, the child wouldn't have been able to access them." It also states "the child wouldn't have been able to access them" if properly secured. The WKBN sentencing article quotes Rice's attorney saying Rice "knew that she was in charge and should have made sure that the medicine was safely secured." The failure to secure dangerous medication, allowing the 20-month-old child to access it, constitutes 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?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The biological mother, Aris Rice, was identified as the parent responsible. Multiple sources confirm she was the boy's mother and the methadone that the child ingested was her prescription. The wfmj.com indictment article states the child "ingested his mother's prescription methadone." The tribtoday.com sentencing article states the prosecutor said "the child's death resulted from clear negligence" on Rice's part. She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangering.
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?
Multiple sources confirm that Aris Rice was arrested, charged, and ultimately convicted. The wkbn.com initial charges article states "charges of felony child endangering and reckless homicide were filed against Aris Rice, 32." The tribtoday.com sentencing article confirms she "received the sentence Tuesday on charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangering" and was sentenced to a year 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?
The tribtoday.com sentencing article states Rice's attorney "told of her history battling drug addiction and the upward trajectory of her life up until she was criminally charged." Additionally, Rice was part of a take-home methadone program with Meridian Health Care, indicating ongoing treatment for substance use disorder. The methadone prescription itself was the mother's, confirming substance use by the caregiver.
Notable Details
The tribtoday.com sentencing article provides notable detail about a systemic safeguard that failed: Rice was part of a take-home program with Meridian Health Care for her methadone prescription, where "each dose is sealed with foil" and "the doses were required to be kept inside a locked container with a passcode chosen by Rice." The prosecutor noted that "This is so important to Meridian they make their clients sign a written contract stating they'll keep those liquid doses in a locked container and somehow that didn't happen in this case and it resulted in tragic consequences." This highlights a specific policy and procedural safeguard — the locked container requirement and signed contract — that was in place but failed to prevent the child's access to the medication.
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