On August 23, 2023, 13-year-old Eli G Dominguez was at his father Emilio Dominguez's former paramour's home during an overnight visit with his siblings. The father and Eli were in the garage smoking when Eli began feeling unwell. A sibling reported seeing the father give Eli an unknown pill and offer half to another sibling who declined. The father put the unresponsive child to bed, believing he could "sleep it off," and did not seek medical attention. The following morning, a sibling discovered Eli had stopped breathing. The father attempted to revive him by moving him to a bathtub before calling 911. Eli was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Toxicology confirmed the presence of fentanyl, alprazolam (neither prescribed), and marijuana, and the preliminary cause of death was the combined toxic effects of fentanyl and alprazolam. The father, who had a longstanding history of drug use, was arrested and charged with injury to a child by omission.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The fatality report states that "The medical staff confirmed that the child had been positive for Fentanyl and Alprazolam, which were not prescribed" and the preliminary cause of death was "the combined toxic effects of Fentanyl and Alprazolam." The news article corroborates: "there was some initial toxicology that did show that this child who died did test positive from the initial toxicology with fentanyl in his system, benzodiazepine, and marijuana."
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)?
The fatality report describes that the father had overnight visits with his children and was "in the garage with the 13-year-old child" smoking drugs. The father was supervising the children during an overnight visit but instead used drugs with and around them. After the child became unresponsive, the father put the child to bed to "sleep it off" rather than seeking immediate medical attention, effectively failing to appropriately supervise or respond to the child's condition for hours.
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?
The fatality report states that "The father did not take any measures to protect his child and did not seek immediate medical attention for several hours after the child became unresponsive." The father instead told the child to "sleep it off" and waited until the next morning to call 911. The news article confirms the charge was "injury to a child by omission," and the assistant DA stated: "(The father) said to sleep it off, and the next morning, that's when he called 911." This constitutes a clear failure to seek necessary medical care.
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?
The fatality report identifies the alleged perpetrator as "Dad" and describes him as the father who had overnight visits with "his four children." The news article refers to Eli as Emilio Dominguez's "son" and notes that the father and the 13-year-old "took drugs together." While the word "biological" is not used, the consistent references to him as "father" and "Dad," the shared surname, and the custodial arrangement with the mother strongly imply a biological relationship.
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)?
The fatality report explicitly states "Previous CPS Investigations: 3," indicating a documented history of child protection reports prior to this death.
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 fatality report states: "Law enforcement conducted an investigation and the father was arrested and charged with injury to a child." The news article corroborates: "Emilio Dominguez was charged with injury to a child by omission and arrested on Wednesday" and notes he was "being held on a $150,000 bond."
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?
The news article states: "Court records show Emilio Dominguez has served time in prison, previously for weapon and drug-related charges." These prior criminal charges and incarceration predate and are separate from the current fatal incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states: "The father had a longstanding history of drug use and was believed to be using drugs around his children." It also describes the father smoking in the garage and siblings observing "the father pouring an unknown liquid onto paper that contained marijuana to smoke it." The news article adds that "Court records show Emilio Dominguez has served time in prison, previously for weapon and drug-related charges."
Notable Details
The news article notes: "A state law took effect Sept. 1 that allowed murder charges to be filed in fentanyl-related deaths." This law took effect just eight days after Eli's death on August 24, 2023. The assistant DA also indicated the father's charge "may be upgraded as investigators learn more." This timing is notable because, had the death occurred slightly later, the father could have potentially faced murder charges under the new law. Additionally, a sibling reported witnessing the father give the child an unknown pill and offer half of the same pill to another sibling who declined, and another sibling had "advised the child not to be smoking the unknown substance with their father" — indicating the children were aware of the danger even as the father facilitated their exposure.
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