Ten-week-old Amaya Mae Robison, a premature twin, was left in the care of Michael David Gregory — the boyfriend of her custodial guardian — in Commerce, Oklahoma, while the guardian went to work. Gregory, who had never cared for a baby before, confessed to being "often forceful" when picking up or laying down the twins. On December 1, 2022, Gregory called his girlfriend to report that one of the infants had stopped breathing. The child was found to have suffered severe brain and eye injuries from blunt force trauma to the head and neck, and she died on December 3, 2022, at St. Francis Children's Hospital in Tulsa. Her twin sister also suffered a small brain bleed but recovered. Gregory pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury and was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
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)
Multiple documents describe the child's death as a "beating death" (documents 1 and 4). The autopsy determined the cause of death was "blunt force trauma of the head and neck" (document 3). Document 3 also reports that Gregory confessed: "I was often forceful when I picked up or laid down" the twin girls. The autopsy (document 1) described "several trauma-related head injuries," "subdural hemorrhages," brain "swelling," contusions to both ears, and an abrasion on the upper lip, all consistent with inflicted injury.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Document 1 states that Gregory's family sent a message claiming the biological mother "was intoxicated she admitted to dropping the baby on concrete and failed to take the infant to a doctor." While this is an unsubstantiated accusation from the defendant's family trying to shift blame, it constitutes a mention of medical neglect (failure to seek medical care for the child).
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?
While the specific terms "shaken baby syndrome" or "abusive head trauma" are not used, the injuries described are hallmarks of abusive head trauma in an infant: document 1 reports "subdural hemorrhages," brain "swelling," and "ultimately brain death"; document 2 notes "severe brain and eye injuries"; and the cause of death was "blunt force trauma of the head and neck" (document 3). The combination of subdural hemorrhages, brain swelling, and eye injuries in a 10-week-old infant strongly implies abusive head trauma. Gregory also confessed to being "often forceful when I picked up or laid down" the twins (document 3), consistent with rough handling that could produce such injuries.
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)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Michael David Gregory was the boyfriend of Shanna Kimbro, who had custody of the twins. He was not the biological father of the children. Document 3 states: "Gregory said he was responsible for the twin infants while his girlfriend went to work." Document 4 confirms the children were left with "Gregory's girlfriend at the time, Shanna Kimbro." Gregory pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of the infant and assault of her twin sister, making him a male paramour directly involved in the death.
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)?
Document 3 states: "The twins were subsequently placed in the custody of her aunt and Gregory's girlfriend, Shanna Kimbro, 10 days after their birth." This phrasing suggests Kimbro is the biological mother's aunt (and Gregory's girlfriend), making her a relative of the twins. The children were living at Gregory's Commerce residence with Kimbro, not with their biological parents. The biological mother had abandoned all four of her children, and the twins were placed with Kimbro/the aunt when they were just 10 days old.
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?
Document 3 states in the defense motion: "the twins' biological mother gave birth to the girls prematurely."
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Document 3 states: "The biological mother of four children had abandoned her oldest daughter with a neighbor, and Child Protective Services took her other daughter." This indicates prior CPS involvement with the biological mother's other children (siblings of the deceased), demonstrating a history of child protection 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 1 states: "A federal grand jury indicted Gregory with one count of first-degree murder in Indian Country; two counts of child abuse in Indian Country and two counts of child neglect in Indian Country." Document 3 confirms he "pleaded guilty on Tuesday to reduced charges of voluntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury." Document 4 states he was "sentenced to 20 years in a federal 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?
Document 1 reports that Gregory's family claimed "when the mother was intoxicated she admitted to dropping the baby on concrete." The term "intoxicated" references substance use by the biological mother (a parent). However, this is an unsubstantiated accusation from the defendant's family attempting to shift blame, and no charges were filed against the biological mother.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge across the documents. The case was prosecuted in federal court because the incident occurred in Indian Country; document 4 states: "the apartment in which Gregory cared for the twins is located on the Quapaw Nation reservation, and both infants are considered 'Indian persons' because they are eligible for membership in the Choctaw Nation," despite Gregory not being a member of a federally recognized tribe. The biological mother abandoned all four of her children — CPS took one, one was left with a neighbor, and the twins were placed with Kimbro just 10 days after their premature birth. Document 3 notes that Gregory "had never cared for a baby before, and he was woefully unprepared." The twin sister was also assaulted and suffered a small brain bleed but made a full recovery. Gregory was initially charged with first-degree murder but pleaded guilty to reduced charges of voluntary manslaughter. Document 3 also notes that Gregory and Kimbro "applied for a marriage license in Ottawa County in Feb. 2024."
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