A newborn was delivered at a Moorehead Place apartment in Sumter County, South Carolina, approximately two days before officers were called on July 31. The mother, Melissa Nicole Bautch (21), initially claimed the baby was born a few months prematurely and was unresponsive at birth. The father, Brandon Sean Hostetler (21), was not home at the time of delivery but was notified and returned to the apartment. Neither parent sought medical attention or contacted first responders. Autopsy results contradicted the mother's account, revealing the newborn was full-term and remained alive for some time without receiving aid. Bautch was charged with homicide by child neglect, and Hostetler was charged with unlawful neglect.
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?
Document 1 states that "neither parent sought medical attention or notified first responders at that time" and that "Autopsy results released Thursday show the newborn was full term at birth and remained alive for some time without receiving aid." The mother is charged with "homicide by child neglect" and the father with "unlawful neglect," both directly related to the failure to obtain medical care for the newborn.
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?
Document 1 identifies Brandon Sean Hostetler as the father of the newborn and states he is "charged with unlawful neglect." It further notes that he "was notified by the mother about the circumstances and later returned to the apartment" but "neither parent sought medical attention or notified first responders at that time." His failure to act contributed to the child's death.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Document 1 identifies Melissa Nicole Bautch as the mother who delivered the baby and is "charged with homicide by child neglect." She delivered the baby and neither sought medical attention nor notified first responders.
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?
Document 1 states that Melissa Nicole Bautch "is charged with homicide by child neglect" and Brandon Sean Hostetler "is charged with unlawful neglect." Both were "booked Thursday night at the local detention center."
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
A significant discrepancy exists between the mother's account and the autopsy findings. Document 1 states the mother "said she had delivered a baby a few months prematurely about two days earlier" and that "the infant, she said, was unresponsive at the time of its birth." However, "Autopsy results released Thursday show the newborn was full term at birth and remained alive for some time without receiving aid." This contradiction suggests the mother provided a false account to officers — claiming the baby was premature and born unresponsive — when in fact the baby was full-term and alive for a period of time. This misrepresentation is a substantive detail that materially affects understanding of this case.
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