Six-year-old Titus Davenport, who had autism, was found unresponsive in his father's bedroom in Salem, Oregon, on January 20, 2023, covered in bruises. He was taken to Salem Hospital where he died. A medical examiner determined that a brain bleed caused his death and that the injury could not have been self-inflicted. Titus had not been to school for nine days before his death, and his injuries indicated he had been abused before the fatal day. His stepmother, Cierra Wiedner, had been caring for him while his father was at work. In text messages to the father, Wiedner complained about Titus' behavior, used derogatory language about his disability, and described him as bleeding from head injuries she attributed to self-harm. The prosecutor described the case as torture, not merely a failure to provide medical care. Wiedner ultimately pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and was sentenced to five years in prison. The biological father was initially arrested for criminal mistreatment but was not ultimately prosecuted.
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 3 states that "paramedics found 6-year-old Titus Davenport in his father's bedroom, covered in bruises." The judge said the photos "show a 6-year-old body that was abused" and noted "6-year-olds don't have bruising behind their ears. They don't have multiple marks on their face and head." The medical examiner found that the fatal brain bleed was not self-inflicted, confirming inflicted injuries.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The initial criminal mistreatment charge in Document 1 was filed under the provision that includes "knowingly withholds necessary and adequate...medical attention from that other person." Additionally, Document 3 states that "Titus' injuries suggested that he had been abused before the day he died" and he "hadn't been to school for nine days before his death," indicating pre-existing injuries that were not medically addressed. While the prosecutor in Document 3 stated "this case is not about failing to get appropriate medical care," that statement was made to emphasize the severity of the abuse, not to deny that medical neglect occurred.
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?
Document 3 states that "a medical examiner found that Titus couldn't have caused the brain bleed that killed him" and the judge noted "multiple marks on their face and head" and "bruising behind their ears." While the specific term "abusive head trauma" is not used, the fatal mechanism was a brain bleed caused by non-self-inflicted trauma to the head, which constitutes abusive head trauma.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Document 3 explicitly states the prosecutor wrote: "The victim wasn't merely injured – he was tortured." Additionally, it notes that "Titus' injuries suggested that he had been abused before the day he died," the child "hadn't been to school for nine days before his death," and Wiedner used "a slur against people with developmental disabilities to describe Titus' behavior." This collectively describes a pattern of deliberate cruelty over an extended period.
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 states that the biological father, Robby-Joe A. Davenport, was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal mistreatment, which alleges he "knowingly withholds necessary and adequate food, physical care or medical attention." Document 2 confirms the initial arrest. While Document 3 notes he was at work during the fatal incident and spoke at sentencing defending Wiedner, his arrest and the charge of criminal mistreatment indicate his involvement through failure to provide adequate care for his child.
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)?
Cierra Wiedner is identified in all three documents as the domestic partner of the child's biological father. Document 3's headline refers to her as "stepmother" and she is described as Titus' stepmother throughout that article. She pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and was sentenced to five years in prison. Document 2 states she was indicted for first-degree manslaughter, alleging she "killed her domestic partner's son recklessly and 'under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.'"
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?
Document 3 states: "In another text, Wiedner said she had to pull Titus out of school." Additionally, "Police also learned that Titus, a first-grader, hadn't been to school for nine days before his death." This clearly indicates the child was taken out of school prior to his death.
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)
Document 3 explicitly states "Titus, who had autism." Wiedner also "said she shouldn't have watched Titus without first getting training in caring for children with special needs." Additionally, Wiedner "used a slur against people with developmental disabilities to describe Titus' behavior."
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 1 states that both Robby-Joe A. Davenport and Cierra Wiedner were arrested and charged with first-degree criminal mistreatment. Document 2 states a Marion County grand jury indicted Wiedner on first-degree manslaughter. Document 3 states Wiedner "pleaded guilty on Monday in Marion County Circuit Court to criminally negligent homicide" and was sentenced to five years 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?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the documents. First, Documents 1 and 2 report that the father, Robby-Joe Davenport, was granted sole custody of the children on January 4, just 16 days before Titus' death on January 20, after the biological mother did not respond to the divorce petition and her contact address was listed as "unknown." Second, Document 3 reveals that at the sentencing hearing, four people spoke on behalf of Wiedner—including Titus' paternal grandparents, paternal great-grandmother, and his own father. The father, Robby Davenport, stated at the hearing that the death "wasn't Wiedner's fault" and "I have never seen any form of ill will or ill intent towards either of my boys or any other person by Cierra." Third, there is a notable date discrepancy: Documents 1 and 2 consistently state the emergency response was on January 20, 2023, while Document 3 references January 13, 2023 in the context of a sentencing memorandum. Fourth, the charge evolved significantly over time—from first-degree criminal mistreatment (both adults arrested) to first-degree manslaughter (indictment of Wiedner only) to a guilty plea on criminally negligent homicide, suggesting substantial plea negotiations.
These fields were populated by an AI model and may contain inaccuracies. Review the links and PDFs provided for verification before citing. Contact [email protected] to report any inaccuracies where corrections are needed.