On May 4, 2022, 9-year-old Azuree Charles was found dead near a shed at his mother's residence in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. A neighbor boy reported hearing Azuree yell "No, no, no, I'm sorry" at approximately 2:30 a.m. that morning. The child's body was found naked and muddy, partially covered by lawn furniture and a foam cooler, with his pajamas hanging in nearby branches. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was strangulation. His mother, Luella Elien, initially reported the child missing. His father, Jean Charles, was charged with first-degree murder and other offenses after detectives obtained a photo of him near where the body was found carrying a shovel and pushing Azuree's bike. Elien was charged with aggravated assault, child endangerment, and hindering apprehension, having allegedly allowed the father illegal access to the children in the days before the killing despite apparent court restrictions. The family was previously known to child welfare, and three other children in the home were placed in foster care.
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)
Multiple sources confirm the child died of strangulation. The fatality report states the child was "deceased due to strangulation." The WTAE article states "The medical examiner determined Azuree Charles' death to have been caused by strangulation." Jean Charles is charged with strangulation among other offenses. The People article also notes the child was strangled by his father.
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?
The fatality report names "the victim child's mother and father as the perpetrators." The WTAE article identifies the father as Jean Charles and states he "has been charged with first-degree murder in his child's homicide." The People article also identifies Jean Charles as "Azuree Charles' father" who is "charged with murder."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report names "the victim child's mother and father as the perpetrators." The WTAE article identifies the mother as Luella Elien and states she faces charges including "aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children and hindering apprehension or prosecution of another person." The People article adds that Elien is charged with "aggravated assault of a victim less than 13 years old, child endangerment and hindering the apprehension or prosecution of another person."
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." This indicates prior child protection involvement before this 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?
Both parents were charged. The WTAE article states Jean Charles "is being charged with first-degree murder, criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, unlawful restraint, strangulation, concealing the death of a child, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence." Luella Elien "faces charges including aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children and hindering apprehension or prosecution of another person." Both are reported to be in custody.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The WTAE article states "Court documents show a history of physical assault charges against Jean Charles," and the mother "allowed him illegal access to his kids in the days before Azuree's death," suggesting there was a court order restricting the father's contact with the children. The existence of such restrictions, combined with a history of assault charges, strongly implies a domestic violence context. Additionally, the People article notes "Neighborhood children told WPXI they often heard yelling from the boy's home."
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 WTAE article explicitly states: "Court documents show a history of physical assault charges against Jean Charles, Azuree Charles' father." This references a pre-existing criminal history of assault charges separate from the charges arising from Azuree's death.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the sources. First, the People article reports that "Azuree's neighbors told CBS News back in May that the child had just beaten pediatric cancer," making him a cancer survivor. Second, the WTAE article states the mother "allowed him illegal access to his kids in the days before Azuree's death," strongly suggesting there was a court order restricting the father's contact with the children that the mother violated. Third, the People article reports "a boy who lives near Azuree's home heard Azuree yell, 'No, no, no, I'm sorry,' at about 2:30 a.m. on May 4, the day his body was discovered." Fourth, detectives obtained a photo of the father "walking near where Azuree was found that morning carrying a shovel and pushing Azuree's bike" per the WTAE article. Fifth, the body was found in a disturbing state — "naked and muddy, his body partially covered by lawn furniture and a foam cooler" with "pajamas hanging in nearby branches" per the People article. These details collectively suggest the father had been court-ordered away from the children but was granted access by the mother, leading to the fatal incident, and that the father attempted to conceal the body after the killing.
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