A 2-year-old girl died in the care of DeShaun Torrez Smith and Rachael Alexander, who had been caring for the child and her 3-year-old sister since June 19 after volunteering to help the biological mother following a recent childbirth. The couple, who are from Arkansas and not related to the children, traveled to the Tulsa, Oklahoma area reportedly to panhandle and engage in prostitution, bringing the children with them. Upon arriving at the Quality Suites hotel on a Tuesday evening, hotel surveillance captured Smith carrying the 2-year-old who appeared limp and unconscious. The group arrived at 8:44 p.m. and 911 was called at 9:10 p.m. The child was found in cardiac arrest and pronounced dead. Smith admitted to spanking the child on the buttocks with a belt, and medical examiners found loop-patterned injuries on the child's buttocks along with several other unexplained injuries on the head and other areas. Alexander lied to investigators about her identity and relationship to the children. Smith was charged with second-degree murder, child abuse, and child neglect, while Alexander was charged with first-degree murder, child abuse, child neglect, and false impersonation.
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)
Document 1 (thv11.com) states that "Smith admitted that he spanked the 2-year-old child on the butt with a belt earlier that day on Wednesday." Medical examiners also found "loop patterned" injuries on the child's butt and "several other unexplained injuries" on the head and other areas of the child.
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?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Document 1 (thv11.com) states Smith said the children "were in his care as he and Alexander volunteered to help the biological mother, who needed assistance due to a childbirth recently." Smith and Alexander were functioning as informal babysitters, having taken temporary custody of the children to assist the mother.
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Rachael Alexander is female and was one of the child's caretakers. Document 2 (kjrh.com) states the Lt. said "She said they were related to the kid, it turns out they're not." She is a female friend who was involved and charged with first-degree murder, child abuse, child neglect, and false impersonation.
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
DeShaun Torrez Smith is male and was one of the child's caretakers. Document 2 (kjrh.com) notes that Alexander "said they were related to the kid, it turns out they're not." Document 1 (thv11.com) states Smith "volunteered to help the biological mother, who needed assistance due to a childbirth recently." Smith is therefore a male friend of the biological mother who was involved in the child's death through his admitted striking of the child with a belt and his subsequent murder charge.
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?
Document 2 (kjrh.com) states: "Alexander is charged with first-degree murder, child abuse, child neglect and false impersonation. She is being held without bond in the Tulsa County Jail. Torrez-Smith is charged with second-degree murder, child abuse, and child neglect. His bond is set at $500,000."
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 (thv11.com) states authorities responded to "Quality Suites" and the couple arrived there "on Tuesday evening." Document 2 (kjrh.com) refers to the location as "the motel they were staying at in Tulsa." The couple was traveling from Arkansas, staying temporarily in a hotel/motel.
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
Several notable details emerge from the sources. Document 2 (kjrh.com) states the couple "traveled from Little Rock with a family member's 2 and 3-year-old girls to panhandle and prostitute in the Tulsa area," indicating the children were brought along during illegal activities. Hotel surveillance in Document 1 (thv11.com) shows Smith carrying the child who appeared "limp" and "unconscious" upon arrival at 8:44 p.m., but 911 was not called until 9:10 p.m. — a 26-minute delay. Additionally, Alexander was charged with first-degree murder while Smith was charged with second-degree murder, suggesting prosecutors believed Alexander bore greater culpability despite Smith being the one who admitted to striking the child. Alexander also lied about her identity and relationship to the children, earning a false impersonation charge.
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