unnamed boy
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CANDID ID: TX_22_621
AGE
4   years
STATE
Texas
DATE OF DEATH
6/9/2022
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
A toddler drowned on June 9, 2022, at the Resort at Riverside apartments in San Angelo, Texas. Selena Banon, 27, was subsequently indicted on a manslaughter charge by a Tom Green County grand jury for recklessly causing the child's death by undoing a strap on the child's life vest and failing to properly supervise the child. Banon was booked into the Tom Green County Detention Center on February 27, 2023. The article does not specify Banon's relationship to the child.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?

The news article explicitly describes the child's death as a drowning, with the headline referencing a "2022 drowning" and the body text stating Banon was "indicted for allegedly causing the drowning of a toddler at an apartment complex in 2022."

Is there any mention of a firearm incident?

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

The news article states that the grand jury indictment charges Banon with recklessly causing the death of the toddler by "undoing a strap on the life vest" and that "Banon also failed to properly supervise the child on June 9 at the Resort at Riverside apartments." This directly describes inappropriate supervision leading to the child's drowning.

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

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?

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)

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?

The news article states that "Selena Banon, 27, was indicted on a manslaughter charge" and that "Banon was booked into the Tom Green County Detention Center on February 27." This confirms she was both charged and 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?

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Notable Details

The news article describes a notable specific mechanism of death: the indictment states that Banon recklessly caused the child's death by "undoing a strap on the life vest," which is an unusual and specific allegation. Additionally, the relationship between Banon and the child is never stated in the article — she is only described as "a San Angelo woman," leaving it unclear whether she was a parent, relative, babysitter, or other caregiver. This lack of identified relationship is notable for research purposes.

Lives Cut Short