unnamed boy
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CANDID ID: PA_23_1295
AGE
Infant
STATE
Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH
2/7/2023
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
SUMMARY OF DEATH
An 8-month-old male child in York County, Pennsylvania, died on February 7, 2023, as a result of physical abuse inflicted by his father, Sean Michael Deibert Jr. (age 20). The child was transported to a local hospital after having difficulty breathing, where he presented in cardiac arrest with bruises on the face, head, chest, and back, and retinal hemorrhaging. An autopsy determined the cause of death was multiple force trauma, ruled a homicide. The father, who was the sole caregiver at the time, admitted to head butting, shaking, and tossing the child. A Grand Jury presentment concluded the devastating injuries to the baby's brain, skull, scalp, face, brainstem, neck, and spinal cord were caused by forceful, repeated and severe shaking, impact, compression and loading, with the injuries believed to have been inflicted on February 2, 2023. Deibert was charged with criminal homicide and endangering the welfare of a child. The family had no prior child welfare involvement.
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)

The fatality report states "the father admitted to head butting, shaking, and tossing the child." The child presented with "bruises on the face, head, chest, and back, and retinal hemorrhaging." The news article further describes injuries caused by "forceful, repeated and severe shaking, impact, compression and loading." These clearly constitute inflicted injuries.

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?

The fatality report states the father admitted to "shaking" the child and notes the child presented with "retinal hemorrhaging," a hallmark finding of abusive head trauma/shaken baby syndrome. The news article states the Grand Jury concluded injuries were caused by "forceful, repeated and severe shaking, impact, compression and loading" and describes "devastating and pervasive injuries throughout the baby's brain, skull, scalp, face, brainstem, neck, cervical cord, spinal cord and back."

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 identifies "the victim child's father" as the perpetrator and names him as the sole caregiver at the time of the incident. The report uses the unqualified term "father," which in the context of a CPS report typically refers to the biological father. No qualifier such as "step" or "adoptive" is used.

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)?

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)?

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 news article states: "Sean Michael Deibert Jr., 20, has been charged with criminal homicide and endangering the welfare of a child." It also reports that "Deibert Jr. is currently at York County Prison, his bail has been denied."

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

The news article's Grand Jury presentment concluded that the injuries were inflicted on February 2, 2023, five days before the child's death on February 7, 2023. This temporal gap between the infliction of injuries and death is notable. Additionally, the fatality report notes the father admitted to "head butting" the child, which is an unusual method of inflicted abuse. The case also involved a York County Investigating Grand Jury recommendation for charges, which is a less common procedural path for child abuse fatality cases.

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.
Lives Cut Short