Three-year-old Carson Brasher was found dead on December 26, 2023, at his grandparents' home in Saltillo, Hardin County, Tennessee, where he was in their legal custody while his mother attended rehabilitation. The grandmother gave inconsistent stories about the child slipping and hitting his head in the shower and later being found unresponsive, but the DCS report documented his body was covered in bruises, his hair was missing and appeared pulled out with clumps found around the home, and he had multiple cuts on his face and one on his penis — injuries absent in photos from Christmas Eve. Grandmother Amy Brasher was indicted for first-degree premeditated murder and aggravated child abuse, and grandfather Jeff Brasher was charged with child abuse and neglect for failing to protect the child.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The DCS fatality summary (2023.188.pdf) states a family member reported the grandmother "would give him hemp at night to make him sleep," indicating administration of a substance to the child. The caregiver narrative also describes giving the child cold medicine.
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 DCS FAST report (2023.188.pdf) states the child "was observed with bruises from head to toe. His body was covered in bruises. His hair was missing and appears as though it was pulled out... He was also observed to have multiple cuts on his face and one on his penis at the time of death." Amy Brasher was charged with aggravated child abuse and murder per the USA Today article.
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 DCS FAST report (2023.188.pdf) describes the child as observed "with bruises from head to toe. His body was covered in bruises. His hair was missing and appears as though it was pulled out. Clumps of hair was found in the hall and in the bathroom," plus "multiple cuts on his face and one on his penis." A family member reported the grandmother spoke negatively about him and "would give him hemp at night to make him sleep." This pattern of extensive bruising and hair removal implies sustained cruelty beyond a single act of abuse.
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
The USA Today article reports the mother said "the Brashers had legal custody of her son while she was attending rehabilitation," making the grandparents the child's legal guardians at the time of his death, and they are the accused perpetrators.
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
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)
The grandparents were the caregivers and accused. The WSMV article states "Amy Brasher was indicted on first-degree murder, child abuse and neglect charges, while Jeff Brasher was charged with child abuse and neglect." The USA Today article describes Amy Brasher as the grandmother who "allegedly abused Carson and, with premeditation, killed him."
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)?
The USA Today article states the child was living with his grandparents who "had legal custody of her son while she was attending rehabilitation," and the DCS report indicates he died at the grandparents' home.
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?
The WSMV article states "Jeff and Amy Brasher were arrested on charges related to his death on March 29." The USA Today article reports Amy Brasher "is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse" and the couple "was arrested on March 26."
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?
The USA Today article states the mother had legal custody removed "while she was attending rehabilitation," indicating parental substance treatment. The DCS report (2023.188.pdf) also reports the grandmother "would give him hemp at night to make him sleep."
Notable Details
The DCS report (2023.188.pdf) documents that the grandmother "has given two different stories so far as to what happened," with inconsistent accounts of a shower/bathtub fall, vomiting, and being found unresponsive. Photographs from Christmas Eve provided by the aunt "showed [him] with no bruises or missing hair," undercutting the caregivers' claims that he bruised easily and pulled out his own hair. The father reported the grandmother had been physically abusive to him as a child. The case also reflects a custody/oversight context: the mother lost custody to the grandparents while in rehabilitation, and the DCS case remained open pending autopsy results for an extended period.
These fields were populated by an AI model and may contain inaccuracies. Review the links and PDFs provided for verification before citing. Contact [email protected] to report any inaccuracies where corrections are needed.