On February 17, 2022, two-year-old Kayden Zvolensky was fatally run over by a vehicle operated by his father, Mark Zvolensky, at their home on Dorothy Street in the Tripp Park section of Scranton, Pennsylvania. The father had left the child alone in the backyard and accidentally backed over him with his car; the child died at the hospital from head injuries. The father reportedly had drugs in his system at the time, having admitted to being awake for days using methamphetamine and cocaine. He subsequently attempted to obstruct the child welfare investigation by submitting someone else's urine sample to a CYS caseworker. Both parents were named as perpetrators in the CPS investigation for serious physical neglect, as they were the sole caregivers and were aware the child was outside playing while the vehicle was being moved. Mark Zvolensky pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 15 to 72 months in state prison; the mother's child endangerment charges were withdrawn. The family had been previously known to child welfare.
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)?
The fatality report states "the mother and the father were the sole caregivers of the child at the time of the incident and were aware the child was outside playing while the vehicle was being moved." The WNEP news article states the father "left the child alone in the backyard and then accidentally backed over his son with his car." Both sources indicate inappropriate supervision — the child was left unattended in the backyard while a vehicle was being operated.
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?
The fatality report states the "victim child was run over by a vehicle when father was moving the vehicle." The WNEP article corroborates: "the 2-year-old was run over by a car in February of 2022" and "he left the child alone in the backyard and then accidentally backed over his son with his car."
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?
The fatality report names the "victim child's mother and father as the perpetrators" and states the father was moving the vehicle that struck the child. The WNEP article identifies Mark Zvolensky as the father who "accidentally backed over his son with his car." The child shares the father's surname (Kayden Zvolensky), and no indication of a non-biological relationship is present.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report names both "the victim child's mother and father as the perpetrators" and states they "were the sole caregivers of the child at the time of the incident and were aware the child was outside playing while the vehicle was being moved." Although the WNEP article notes that charges against the mother, Amber Zvolensky, "were withdrawn," the official CPS investigation indicated her as a perpetrator for the neglect finding.
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)?
The fatality report explicitly states: "The family was previously known to child welfare."
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 "the mother and the father had been criminally charged." The WNEP article confirms Mark Zvolensky "pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter" and was sentenced to "15 to 72 months in state prison for the death of his son."
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?
The WNEP article states: "the judge said while he felt for the family and the loss of their son, he couldn't deny that Zvolensky's criminal history detailed a past of poor choices." This refers to criminal history that predates the current fatal incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The WNEP article states "Zvolensky had drugs in his system at the time of the accident." The news4sanantonio article provides further detail: "Zvolensky told the witness that he had been awake for days using methamphetamine and cocaine."
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the sources. The news4sanantonio article reports that Mark Zvolensky attempted to obstruct the child welfare investigation by providing a fraudulent urine sample: "Zvolensky gave the other person's urine to a Lackawanna County Office of Youth and Family Services caseworker to 'impair and impede said investigation.'" An anonymous witness admitted to providing the sample because "they were intimidated by Zvolensky." The WNEP article also notes that the mother's child endangerment charges "were withdrawn," despite the fatality report naming her as a perpetrator in the CPS finding. Additionally, the father pleaded guilty to both involuntary manslaughter and "providing a urine sample that wasn't his."
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