unnamed girl
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CANDID ID: TX_23_1686
AGE
Infant
STATE
Indiana
DATE OF DEATH
10/9/2023
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On October 9, Aaliyah Lykins of Muncie, Indiana, called 911 after falling asleep in bed while breastfeeding her 2-week-old daughter. EMS personnel found the baby limp with no signs of breathing, and the infant was pronounced dead at the hospital. Lykins told EMS personnel "Oh no, I did it again," referencing a prior incident in which her son, nearly 2 months old, died on October 30, 2020, also from co-sleeping in bed with her. The affidavit states Lykins was fully aware of the dangers of co-sleeping given the earlier death. She was charged with reckless homicide and neglect of a dependent.
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)

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?

The news article explicitly describes an unsafe sleeping environment. The article states that the mother fell "asleep in bed with her 2-week-old daughter" and that "Aaliyah Lykins was fully aware of the danger of co-sleeping with her infant." The article also notes that "The American Academy of Pediatrics 'strongly discourages' co-sleeping, or sharing a bed with a baby" and references "Accidental asphyxia" as a possible outcome when mothers fall asleep in bed with infants while breastfeeding.

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 news article identifies the biological mother, Aaliyah Lykins, as the person directly involved in the death. The article states she "called 911 after falling asleep in bed with her 2-week-old daughter" and was breastfeeding at the time. She was subsequently charged with reckless homicide and neglect of a dependent.

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)?

The news article explicitly states that the mother "had a prior born child die while co-sleeping." Specifically: "On Oct. 30, 2020, Lykins had a son, almost 2 months old at the time, who died from co-sleeping in a bed with her, court records show." This is a separate, prior sibling death.

Parent/Caregiver Factors

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

The news article states: "The charges filed against Lykins include reckless homicide and neglect of a dependent, according to court records."

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

A critical detail not fully captured by the preceding questions is that this is the second infant death under nearly identical circumstances for the same mother. The affidavit states that "Aaliyah Lykins was fully aware of the danger of co-sleeping with her infant ... as she had a prior born child die while co-sleeping." Her son died on Oct. 30, 2020, under the same conditions (co-sleeping in bed). At that time, she told officers "that she should not have placed (her son) in bed with her, and that she knew it was wrong." Upon discovering the second child's death, she told EMS personnel, "Oh no, I did it again." This documented, repeated pattern of the same fatal behavior — despite acknowledged awareness of the risk — appears to be a central factor in the reckless homicide charge and raises systemic questions about what interventions or monitoring, if any, were in place following the first child's death.

Lives Cut Short