Carlisle Merlin Visser, a 1-year-old boy from Grantsville, Utah, was found unconscious and not breathing on June 3, 2022, while in the care of his father, Aaron Visser. Emergency personnel transported the child first to Mountain West Medical Center and then by Life Flight to Primary Children's Hospital, where doctors discovered numerous injuries including a brain bleed and multiple internal injuries. The injuries were both new and preexisting, suggesting a pattern of ongoing abuse. Siblings told police that their father was abusive and that the infant was "constantly getting injured" in the master bedroom with the father. The father was reportedly "very upset" about being woken up by the infant and his twin brother on the day of the incident. The child was placed on life support and died on June 6, 2022. Aaron Visser was charged with aggravated murder after initially being arrested for aggravated child abuse.
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)
Both documents describe extensive physical injuries inflicted on the child. The Salt Lake Tribune article states that an officer "photographed several injuries to the infant's face, eyes, feet and hand" and that "Multiple internal injuries were later discovered during an assessment at the hospital." The injuries were "both new and preexisting." A sibling reported "hearing a loud thud followed by the victim crying and then hearing their father's voice." The KSL article lists the method of death as "Beating" and notes the child had "numerous injuries, including a brain bleed."
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?
The KSL article states that doctors found the child had "numerous injuries, including a brain bleed." A brain bleed (intracranial hemorrhage) in a 1-year-old who was physically abused is strongly suggestive of abusive head trauma. While the terms "shaken baby syndrome" or "abusive head trauma" are not explicitly used, the presence of a brain bleed in this context of inflicted injury in an infant strongly implies 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?
Both documents identify the perpetrator as the child's father. The Salt Lake Tribune article describes Aaron Visser as a "Tooele County father" and refers to the victim as "his approximately 1-year-old son." The KSL article states the siblings told police that "their father, Aaron Visser" was responsible. The child's surname, Carlisle Merlin Visser, matches the father's surname, supporting biological parentage.
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 Salt Lake Tribune article states that Aaron Visser "was initially arrested on suspicion of aggravated child abuse" and that "The aggravated murder charge was filed in 3rd District Court two days later." The KSL article confirms "Visser is charged with murder."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The Salt Lake Tribune article states that the infant's siblings "allegedly said that Visser was abusive." This characterization of the father as abusive in the domestic setting, combined with the pattern of physical violence inflicted on a 1-year-old child in the home, references domestic violence by the parent/caregiver.
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 Salt Lake Tribune article notes the victim had a twin brother, and that the father was "very upset" about being woken up by both the infant and his twin on the day of the incident. Additionally, the victim's injuries were "both new and preexisting," and siblings reported the infant was "constantly getting injured while inside the master bedroom with the father," suggesting a prolonged pattern of abuse that was not addressed prior to the fatal incident. The father also gave "myriad explanations, none of which appeared consistent" when interviewed by police.
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