On July 8, 2022, a 2-year-old boy was found unresponsive at approximately 5:00 a.m. at his home on Creek Road in Oakland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, where he lived with his mother, Stevie Nicole Goreczny (age 21), and his maternal grandfather, Stanley Goreczny (age 64). The child was rushed to UPMC Northwest Hospital in Cranberry Township, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Toxicology revealed lethal levels of fentanyl (2.2 mg/mL) in his cardiac blood, and the death was classified as fentanyl drug toxicity. The mother admitted to regular use of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs, and acknowledged that dangerous illegal drugs were present in the household on a daily basis and accessible to the child. The grandfather had also misplaced a container of fentanyl or heroin less than a month before the child's death. The mother was convicted of third-degree murder and sentenced to 6 to 15 years in prison, while the grandfather pleaded guilty to child endangerment and was sentenced to 1 to 4 years.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The fatality report (Q3.2022-18.pdf) states: "A toxicology screening revealed the child was positive for an illegal substance." The news article explicitly identifies the substance and mechanism: "fentanyl-overdose death of her two-year-old son." The toxicology report listed "Fentanyl 2.2/mg/ml" in the victim's cardiac blood and the death was classified as "a Fentanyl Drug Toxicity death." Stevie was asked by the officer "if the thought ever crossed her mind that her son may have grabbed a dangerous illicit substance like fentanyl, heroin, or meth, and ingested it. She stated: 'I didn't know. I was scared. It was a thought.'"
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 fatality report states: "It was determined through the investigation that the mother and the maternal grandfather were aware that the illegal substance was in the home and accessible to the child." The news article further details that drugs were present in the home on a daily basis. Stevie admitted: "it is fair to say that there are dangerous illegal drugs at Stanley's house on a daily basis," and that the child could climb on furniture. Furthermore, Stanley had "misplaced a container of fentanyl or heroin less than a month before the victim's birthday" and it had not been found. This constitutes a failure to adequately supervise and protect the child from hazardous substances.
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?
The news article describes the mother's failure to provide regular medical care. Stevie stated: "I did (take him) at the beginning but because of Covid I didn't want him around other people getting sick." She also "didn't know what doctor the victim saw in the past." Additionally, the child had symptoms of illness (fever, cold) for "approximately three to four days" and Stevie said: "I wish I would have taken him to the doctor, but I didn't think he needed to go." While the death was ultimately caused by fentanyl toxicity, these statements indicate a pattern 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 fatality report names "the victim child's mother" as a perpetrator. The news article identifies her as Stevie Nicole Goreczny, the child's biological mother, who pleaded guilty to Murder of the Third Degree and was sentenced to 6 to 15 years in prison. She admitted to regular drug use and acknowledged that the fentanyl that killed her son was either hers or her father's.
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)?
The news article references a "known 38-year-old Oil City man" who was described as Stevie's friend (the officer asked if she was dating him; Stanley said she was "friends with him"). This man was described as "a known drug user/dealer in Venango County with multiple warrants out for his arrest, including dangerous drug-related warrants." Critically, Stevie confirmed that the fentanyl that killed her son was supplied by this man: "the officer asked Stevie if it was safe to say that the fentanyl that killed her son was either her fentanyl or Stanley's fentanyl and that the fentanyl was supplied by (the known 38-year-old Oil City man), and Stevie said 'yes.'" While he was not present at the time of death and was not charged, his supply of the fatal substance directly contributed to the circumstances of the death.
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
The fatality report names "the victim child's... maternal grandfather as the perpetrators." The news article identifies him as Stanley S. Goreczny, 64 years old, who pleaded guilty to one felony child endangerment charge and was sentenced to 1 to 4 years in state prison. He was a co-resident and co-caregiver of the child at the Creek Road address.
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)?
The fatality report explicitly states: "The family had no prior documented child welfare involvement." This confirms the absence of prior child protection reports, which is relevant as an explicit finding regarding CPS history.
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 fatality report states: "At the time the report was indicated, the mother and the maternal grandfather had been criminally charged." The news article details: Stevie Nicole Goreczny pleaded guilty to Murder of the Third Degree and was sentenced to 6 to 15 years. Stanley S. Goreczny pleaded guilty to one felony child endangerment charge and was sentenced to 1 to 4 years.
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 news article extensively documents substance use by the parent/caregiver. Stevie Goreczny stated: "I was using heroin before his birthday" and "allegedly admitted to using heroin and fentanyl on a regular basis. She admitted to using any drug she could get her hands on, but she preferred heroin, fentanyl, and meth." MDMA was also found in her drug screen. Additionally, Stevie stated "it is fair to say that there are dangerous illegal drugs at Stanley's house on a daily basis," indicating Stanley (the grandfather/caregiver) also had drugs. Stanley kept his drugs "up high in the bathroom in either a fixture or in his bedroom in a drawer." The officer also "noted that Stevie appeared to be impaired on some sort of drug" during the initial interview.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the text. First, the news article states that after the child was pronounced dead at the hospital, the mother and grandfather left the hospital approximately 90 minutes later (at approximately 7:01 a.m.) without returning, and "medical personnel were unable to contact them." Stanley then dropped Stevie at the known drug dealer's residence after they left the hospital. Second, Stevie disclosed that Stanley had "misplaced a container of fentanyl or heroin less than a month before the victim's birthday" and "didn't think he lost it; he thought he put it somewhere and couldn't find it. She didn't know if it even had been found yet." This lost container of fentanyl may have been the source of the child's fatal exposure. Third, the officer noted that "Stevie appeared to be impaired on some sort of drug when the officer was speaking to her" during the initial interview on the day of her son's death.
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