On October 4, 2023, 20-month-old Liam Wade Saddler was found deceased in a locked rear bedroom of his family home in Westmoreland, Tennessee. The child's mother had locked herself and Liam in the bedroom beginning around October 2, 2023, and refused to open the door for approximately two to three days, telling the maternal grandmother they were sick. When the grandmother finally forced entry on October 4th, she discovered the child unresponsive and called 911. Law enforcement found the child in the supine position, wrapped in a sheet, blue in color with eyes bulging and blood exiting the nose, showing signs of decomposition including bloating and lividity. EMS noted signs of possible abuse including bruising and markings on his face, right arm, groin, and both legs. The mother was found on the laundry room floor and repeatedly stated the child was not dead but just sleeping, displaying confused and erratic behavior. An autopsy determined both the cause and manner of death were undetermined, though findings were highly suspicious for an asphyxial mechanism such as suffocation, smothering, or overlay. The mother had a diagnosed but untreated Bipolar Disorder, a history of methamphetamine abuse, and had previously had five older children removed from her care. DCS substantiated the allegation of Abuse Death against the mother, though no criminal charges had been filed as of April 2024.
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 that EMS reported "numerous signs of possible abuse covering parts of his body including bruising and marking. EMS reported these findings were discovered on his face, right arm, groin, and both legs." EMS specifically distinguished these from decomposition signs ("moderate decomposition, bloating, and lividity"), identifying them separately as "signs of possible abuse." Additionally, the autopsy noted "red discolorations on the lateral aspects of the face" and findings "highly suspicious and concerning for an asphyxial mechanism of death including but not limited to suffocation, smothering of overlay." While the bruising is described as "possible" abuse rather than definitively confirmed inflicted injury, the pattern across multiple body parts and the CPIT's agreement on abuse death strongly imply inflicted injury.
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)?
The fatality report describes the mother locking herself and the child in a bedroom from approximately 10/2/23 to 10/4/23, refusing to leave or open the door. This constitutes confinement lasting approximately 2-3 days. Additionally, EMS reported "numerous signs of possible abuse covering parts of his body including bruising and marking" on "his face, right arm, groin, and both legs," indicating physical harm beyond neglect. The combination of multi-day confinement in a locked room and evidence of physical abuse on multiple body parts suggests prolonged cruel treatment extending beyond typical neglect, though the mother's severe untreated mental illness (Bipolar Disorder) introduces ambiguity about the deliberateness of the cruelty.
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 fatality report explicitly identifies the birth mother as the Alleged Perpetrator (AP) for the Abuse Death allegation: "The Alleged Perpetrator (AP) was listed as [REDACTED] birth mother." The case was closed with "Allegation Substantiated, Perpetrator Substantiated against AP [REDACTED] regarding ACV [REDACTED]." The CPIT team agreed there was a preponderance of evidence to support the Abuse Death allegation against the mother.
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)?
The fatality report notes a prior DCS investigation: "Address match in TFACTS to Investigation Case [REDACTED] closed 2/28/2022. ACV: [REDACTED]; Birth Mother/AP: [REDACTED]; Birth Father: [REDACTED]." Additionally, the mother's five older children had been placed in permanent guardianship with a family member in 2019: "Ms. [REDACTED] reported that she is [REDACTED] aunt and was granted permanent guardianship of her five older children in 2019 by [REDACTED] County court." The case recording also notes: "the other children had previously been removed due to drug use."
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?
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?
The fatality report extensively references the mother's mental health. The grandmother reported the mother "has been diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder, but is not currently taking any medication." The FAST assessment rates the mother's Mental Health score at 3 (highest concern) and states: "The family reported that Ms. [REDACTED] has been diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder but does not take any medication and this diagnosis has been left untreated." The mother exhibited atypical behaviors: "observed talking to herself and writing with her finger in the air," "observed to giggle, at times, while being interviewed," and "observed to have a flat affect and did not cry." The case closure notes: "Mental health issues appear to be one of the underlying concerns." The grandmother was also diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder but reported medication compliance.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report's FAST assessment states regarding the mother: "Ms. [REDACTED] has a criminal history. She denied any current or pending charges and is not currently on probation" with a Criminal Activity score of 1. The biological father also has prior criminal history: "Mr. [REDACTED] recently served jail time related to drug charges in [REDACTED] County. Mr. [REDACTED] is currently clean, however there is a significant history of drug use" and "was recently released from the [REDACTED] County Jail. He has no current or pending criminal charges at this time." These criminal histories predate and are separate from the current fatal incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report extensively documents substance use by the parent/caregiver. The mother is described as having "a severe drug abuse history and her drug of choice is methamphetamine." Family members "suspect [REDACTED] has used methamphetamine during the last two weeks." The FAST assessment notes: "Ms. [REDACTED] has a history of severe drug abuse. Her drug of choice is methamphetamine." The biological father also has a substance abuse history: "Mr. [REDACTED] recently served jail time related to drug charges... there is a significant history of drug use." The maternal grandmother also "has a history of drug abuse, but reported she is clean and sober."
Notable Details
The fatality report reveals several notable systemic details. First, the mother's five older children had already been removed from her care and placed in permanent guardianship with an aunt in 2019 due to drug use ("the other children had previously been removed due to drug use"), yet the mother retained custody of this child. Second, there was a prior DCS investigation at the same address closed on 2/28/2022. Third, despite DCS substantiating the allegation of Abuse Death, no criminal charges had been filed against the mother as of April 2024: "Up to date there have been no criminal charges against the mother." The DA initially discussed bringing charges of "abuse of a corpse" the night of the discovery but decided to wait for autopsy results, and no charges materialized even months later. Fourth, the case closure explicitly identified untreated mental health as an underlying concern: "Mental health issues appear to be one of the underlying concerns." The mother had a diagnosed but untreated Bipolar Disorder, and the family reported she was showing erratic behavior suggestive of a possible relapse into methamphetamine use in the weeks prior, though her drug screen was negative on the day of the incident.
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