On December 2, 2023, two-year-old Ventura Mora-Francisco was found unresponsive in Putnam County, Tennessee, while being babysat by his mother's boyfriend, 22-year-old Ashton Cole Sensing, along with three other children. Sensing initially told authorities the child had fallen into a small air vent on the floor, but he later admitted to getting upset with the child multiple times throughout the day and throwing him into a wall and hitting him until the child became unresponsive. Ventura was transported to Cookeville Regional Medical Center and then to Vanderbilt Medical Children's Hospital for a major traumatic brain injury, and he succumbed to his injuries on December 5, 2023. The injuries were classified as non-accidental blunt trauma. Sensing fled but was arrested on December 14 after being found at a store on W. Broad Street. He was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. The mother, Sara Mora, was later arrested for accessory after the fact for helping Sensing evade law enforcement. An examination of the surviving siblings also revealed significant injuries including broken arms, a broken leg, and suspicious bruising.
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 Sensing admitting to inflicted injury. Document 1 (newschannel5.com) states: "Sensing also admitted to getting upset with the child throughout the day before reportedly throwing the child into a wall and hitting him until Mora-Francisco was unresponsive." Document 3 (idahonews.com) quotes Sensing admitting to "throwing the child into a wall and hitting the child, making him become unresponsive."
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 child suffered a "major traumatic brain injury" (Document 1, newschannel5.com) after being thrown into a wall by Sensing. Document 3 (idahonews.com) states the injuries were classified as "non-accidental blunt trauma." While the specific term "abusive head trauma" is not used, the mechanism (being thrown into a wall) producing a major traumatic brain injury constitutes 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?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The biological mother, Sara Mora, was arrested and charged with "accessory after the fact for helping her boyfriend flee from law enforcement" (Document 2, wkrn.com). Additionally, the DCS FAST assessment in Document 4 (2023.173.pdf) lists the 28-year-old female (the mother) as "(AP)" — Alleged Perpetrator. The DCS case recording also states "restrictions and legal action for the boyfriend and mother is being monitored and considered as the childrens medical results become known." While she was not directly responsible for the physical violence, she was criminally charged and identified by DCS as an alleged perpetrator.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Sensing was explicitly described as babysitting the victim. Document 1 (newschannel5.com) states the death was "in connection to the death of a 2-year-old child he was babysitting." Document 2 (wkrn.com) states: "Sensing was babysitting Ventura and three other children when the incident occurred."
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)?
All news articles identify Ashton Cole Sensing as the mother's boyfriend. Document 1 (newschannel5.com) states: "Detectives then interviewed the mother of the child, Sara Mora, as well as Sensing, who has been identified as her boyfriend." Sensing was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse for throwing the child into a wall and hitting him.
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?
Ashton Cole Sensing was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. Document 1 (newschannel5.com) states: "Sensing has been taken to the Putnam County Jail on outstanding warrants for first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse." Additionally, the mother Sara Mora was arrested and "charged with accessory after the fact" per Document 2 (wkrn.com).
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 DCS fatality report (2023.173.pdf) reveals that when the surviving siblings were medically examined following the incident, they were found to have significant injuries as well. The case recording states: "One child had a broken arm, the other child had 2 broken arms and a broken leg and the oldest child had suspicious bruising." Another entry notes one child had "fractures in both arms as well as his right leg" and "was also very sick and would more than likely be admitted into the hospital for further treatment." A later entry noted: "Baby may have to have surgery on the broken leg to correct the growth." This indicates a pattern of physical abuse extending well beyond the single fatal incident, affecting multiple children in the household. The surviving children were placed into DCS custody — two were placed with the biological father, and one remained in foster care. The mother was facing termination of parental rights (TPR) proceedings.
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