On December 31, 2021, Logan Police in Utah responded to a call about an unresponsive 46-day-old infant in a hotel room. First responders found the baby with no heartbeat and not breathing. The child was transported to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City but was removed from life support on January 12, 2022, due to a lack of brain activity. Law enforcement observed signs of severe neglect, including sunken voids in the ribs, chest, and distended abdomen. The Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be malnutrition, noting the child weighed 3.095 kg — below the third percentile for infants of that age. Both parents, Zachary Woirhaye (38) and Jodi Lee Anderson (34), were charged after police determined they knowingly provided insufficient nourishment despite being asked by multiple witnesses and relatives to feed the child more. Woirhaye pleaded guilty to second-degree child abuse homicide and was sentenced to 364 days in jail, while Anderson faces aggravated murder charges.
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?
The news article explicitly states: "The Utah Office of the Medical Examiner later released a report listing the immediate cause of death as malnutrition." Additionally, the article notes the child "weighed 3.095 kg, which is less than the third percentile for infants between five to eight weeks of age" and law enforcement noted signs of neglect including "sunken voids in the ribs, chest and distended abdomen."
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The news article describes a 46-day-old infant who died of malnutrition with "sunken voids in the ribs, chest and distended abdomen." While the article focuses on failure to provide adequate nourishment, an infant exhibiting such severe signs of malnutrition clearly required medical attention that was never sought. The parents' failure to seek medical care for an infant in such a severely deteriorated condition implies 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?
The news article identifies Zachary Woirhaye as the father: "A father who pleaded guilty to child abuse homicide after his 46-day-old child died of malnutrition." He and Jodi Lee Anderson are described as "parents of the infant child." Woirhaye was convicted and sentenced, and police had "probable cause to arrest Woirhaye and Anderson for knowingly providing insufficient nourishment for the baby."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The news article identifies Jodi Lee Anderson as one of the "parents of the infant child." She "faces charges including aggravated murder, a capital offense, and obstruction of justice." Police arrested both Woirhaye and Anderson "for knowingly providing insufficient nourishment for the baby despite being asked to feed them more on several occasions."
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 Zachary Woirhaye "pleaded guilty to child abuse homicide" and "was sentenced to 364 days in the Cache County Jail." Additionally, Jodi Lee Anderson "faces charges including aggravated murder, a capital offense, and obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony." Both parents were arrested based on probable cause for "knowingly providing insufficient nourishment for the baby."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
The news article explicitly states that "Logan Police received a call on Dec. 31, 2021, that an infant was unresponsive in a hotel room." A hotel qualifies as a temporary shelter or transient living situation.
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 reveals a significant sentencing and charging disparity between the two parents: the father, Zachary Woirhaye, pleaded guilty to second-degree child abuse homicide and received only 364 days in jail (with credit for 249 days already served), while the mother, Jodi Lee Anderson, faces aggravated murder — a capital offense — along with obstruction of justice. This stark difference in charges suggests substantially different assessments of culpability or a significant plea agreement. Additionally, the article notes that "multiple witnesses and relatives" had asked the parents to feed the baby more "on several occasions," indicating the community was aware of the child's deteriorating condition before death but the situation still progressed to a fatal outcome.
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