On February 15, 2024, 4-year-old Hope Fields was submerged in scalding hot bath water by her father, Wilbur Fields, as punishment for potty training issues, while her mother, Fifi Hill-Fields, stood by and watched. The parents withheld medical care for approximately 24 hours. Hope was admitted to Prisma Health Hospital on February 16, 2024, unresponsive with severe burns covering nearly half her body and broken bones, suffering three cardiac arrests en route. She was placed on life support but medical tests confirmed no brain activity, and she died on February 18, 2024, after being taken off life support. Her death was ruled a homicide, and both parents were charged with homicide by child abuse and two counts of neglect. Wilbur Fields later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
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 describe the father forcibly submerging Hope in scalding water. Document 3 (wltx.com) states: "Fields forced his daughter into scalding hot bath water as punishment for potty training issues, causing immediate first-degree burns." Document 4 (newschannel9.com) also reports the child sustained "severe burns, and broken bones," indicating further inflicted injury.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Document 3 (wltx.com) states: "Fields withheld medical care for approximately 24 hours, during which Hope remained unresponsive." Documents 1 and 2 (wistv.com) corroborate this: "He said she suffered for about 24 hours before being admitted to the hospital." The deliberate withholding of medical care for a severely burned, unresponsive child constitutes 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?
Documents 1/2 (wistv.com) identify "Hope Fields's parents, Wilbur Fields, 34, and Fifi Hill-Fields, 32" and state the father "punished their daughter for soiling her pants by submerging her in scalding water." Document 3 (wltx.com) states "Fields forced his daughter into scalding hot bath water." He is explicitly identified as her father and the primary actor in causing her injuries.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Document 4 (newschannel9.com) quotes Sheriff Lott: "The mom stood by and watched it." Fifi Hill-Fields is identified as Hope's mother and was charged with homicide by child abuse and two counts of neglect. Documents 1/2 also identify her as a parent who was charged.
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?
Documents 1/2 (wistv.com) state: "The parents were arrested and charged with homicide by child abuse and two counts of neglect by legal custodians." Document 3 (wltx.com) further reports: "Wilbur Fields has pleaded guilty to homicide by child abuse in the death of his 4-year-old daughter, Hope Fields. Judge Heath P. Taylor sentenced Fields to 50 years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections." Document 3 also notes: "Hope's mother, Fifi Hill, is also facing legal action, with her case still pending."
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
Several notable details emerge from the sources that were not addressed by the preceding questions. Document 4 (newschannel9.com) reports that Hope "suffered from three cardiac arrests on the way to the hospital," indicating extreme physiological distress. Document 3 (wltx.com) states that "severe burns covering nearly half of her body" and that "Medical tests confirmed she had no brain activity due to the extent of her injuries." Document 4 also notes that Hope had "broken bones" in addition to burns, and that "Two were there at the time of the incident and watched her suffer," referring to siblings who witnessed the abuse. Document 3 further notes: "Hope's siblings, who witnessed the incident, provided forensic interviews detailing what they saw and heard." Additionally, Wilbur Fields pleaded guilty and received a 50-year sentence, while the mother's case remains pending.
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