A 13-month-old female child in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, died on May 11, 2022, from severe sepsis caused by medical neglect. The child was brought to the hospital emergency room in cardiac arrest and subsequently died. An investigation and autopsy revealed that the child's mother and maternal grandmother, who were the sole caregivers, had missed several of the child's medical appointments and had been advised on multiple occasions to take the child to the hospital due to a reported fever but failed to do so, leading to the fatal sepsis. The family was previously known to child welfare, and a criminal investigation was pending at the time of the CPS report.
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)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The fatality report explicitly describes medical neglect. The child "died on May 11, 2022, as a result of serious physical neglect." Specifically, "the mother and the maternal grandmother missed several of the child's medical appointments, and they were advised on several occasions prior to the incident to take the child to the hospital due to a reported fever; the mother and the maternal grandmother failed to seek medical attention for the child which led to the severe sepsis."
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 states that Juniata County CYS "indicated the report on July 15, 2022, naming the victim child's mother... as the perpetrators." The mother is identified as a biological mother and one of the "sole caregivers of the child at the time of the incident."
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)
The fatality report names the "maternal grandmother" as a perpetrator alongside the mother: "naming the victim child's mother and maternal grandmother as the perpetrators." The maternal grandmother is an adult relative other than a parent.
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." This indicates a history of child protection involvement prior to the child's death.
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?
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?
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