On January 3, 2022, at approximately 3:45 PM, 16-year-old Teagan Welch was fatally shot during a child custody exchange at a Pilot Gas Station in White Pine, Tennessee. Her biological mother, stepfather (Kenneth Cook, a 58-year-old pastor), and biological father (Christopher Welch, age 48) were all present and armed with firearms. Video evidence showed the father initially began to leave after dropping off the child, but something was said to him, causing him to return, at which point an exchange of gunfire erupted. Teagan was struck by a gunshot wound to the neck that transected the spinal cord and arteries at C-7, cutting off blood and oxygen flow to her brain. Her father was shot six times and died at the scene. Teagan and her stepfather were airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Teagan was pronounced brain dead on the evening of January 6, 2022, and was kept on life support as an organ donor until January 7. Her stepfather also died on January 7. The mother was the only adult not injured. The autopsy ruled the manner of death as homicide, and despite the mother having been observed on video in a position to move the child to safety but failing to do so, no criminal charges were filed.
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?
The fatality report states: "Mrs. [mother], Mr. [stepfather], and Mr. [father] came to the child exchange with guns. During the child exchange there was an exchange of gun fire. [Child] was shot in the neck." The autopsy confirmed the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the neck. Multiple firearms and loaded magazines were found on the father. The WVLT article also confirms the child "was shot during what police are calling a custodial exchange."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fatality report substantiated allegations of severe Lack of Supervision against the mother, stepfather, and father. The CPIT meeting notes state: "all 3 of the adults, the mother, stepfather, and father all had firearms in their possession." Further, "Chief [redacted] reported that the mother was in a position based on video they observed to have moved [child] out of the way but did not." The DCS policy defines Lack of Supervision as including when "The child has been placed in a situation that requires actions beyond the child's level of maturity, physical ability, and/or mental ability." The three caregivers brought firearms to a routine custody exchange, creating a dangerous environment for the child.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The child was shot during the custody exchange. The fatality report states the child "was shot in the neck" and the autopsy determined "The cause of death was caused by a gunshot wound to the neck. The manner of death is determined to be homicide." This is an inflicted injury caused by gunfire during a shootout between three adults.
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 biological father was directly involved in the shooting that killed the child. The fatality report states the father was present at the custody exchange with firearms and participated in the exchange of gunfire. The CPIT team substantiated allegations of Abuse Death and severe Lack of Supervision against the father. The Julie Roys article identifies him as "48-year-old Christopher Welch." The DCS report states he "had multiple firearms and fully loaded magazines with him."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The biological mother was armed with a firearm during the custody exchange and fired a weapon. The fatality report states: "the mother, [redacted] shot Mr. [father] again after he was down." Additionally, "Chief [redacted] reported that the mother was in a position based on video they observed to have moved [child] out of the way but did not." The CPIT majority voted to substantiate allegations of Abuse Death and severe Lack of Supervision against the mother (though later reclassified). She was the only adult not injured in the shooting.
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)?
The stepfather (identified as Kenneth Cook in the Julie Roys article, a 58-year-old pastor) was armed with a firearm and participated in the exchange of gunfire during the custody exchange. The fatality report states he was shot and later passed away. Allegations of Abuse Death and severe Lack of Supervision were substantiated against him. The mother stated "she and Mr. [stepfather] have been together for 7 years" and that he "was a preacher."
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?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The FAST 2.0 Assessment in the fatality report explicitly characterizes the incident as a domestic dispute: "Appears the mother and father did not get along with one another as there was a domestic dispute, resulting in the father dying, and the stepfather and child being wounded in the process. The mother, father and stepfather were all armed with firearms." Family Conflict and Family Safety were both scored at 3 (the highest level). The shootout occurred between family members during a child custody exchange.
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 fatality report. First, the CPIT majority voted to substantiate allegations of Abuse Death and Lack of Supervision against all three adults (mother, stepfather, and father), but the Youth Services Officer and Assistant District Attorney dissented regarding the mother. Subsequently, the mother's substantiated classifications were reclassified to unsubstantiated (rows 1, 2, 7, and 8 in the classification table show asterisks indicating reclassification as of 2023). Second, despite video evidence showing "the mother was in a position based on video they observed to have moved [child] out of the way but did not" and evidence that the mother "shot Mr. [father] again after he was down," no criminal prosecution resulted: "There will be no prosecution and no services due to the mother failing to cooperate with DCS during the investigation and due to no other children being in the home." Third, the mother's refusal to cooperate on advice of legal counsel severely hampered the DCS investigation: the case manager was unable to obtain medical records, unable to further engage the mother after initial contact, and unable to provide grief counseling services. The investigation remained in overdue status for over eight months (January through September 2022) as DCS awaited autopsy results and law enforcement findings. The DCS report also notes that neither the police department, the OCS Safety Nurse, nor the Regional General Counsel were able to obtain the child's medical records from the hospital.
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