A 2-month-old boy in Riverdale, Utah, was killed on January 14, 2024, by his mother, Brycee Jo Harkins. Harkins admitted to police that she punched the infant in the head with a "hard punch" because he would not stop crying. The infant then began breathing intermittently before stopping altogether. Harkins did not seek medical assistance while the baby was struggling. During a police interview, she also admitted to a pattern of abuse over the prior two weeks, including throwing the infant into his crib from 1-2 feet multiple times, pushing down on his chest knowing it could hurt him, and backhanding him hard enough to leave a bruise on his forehead. When officers arrived, they found the child deceased with injuries consistent with aggravated child abuse. Another child was present in the home at the time. Harkins was arrested and charged with aggravated murder.
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)
The FOX 13 article states Harkins "gave her son a punch to the head" described as a "hard punch." She also "thrown the infant into his crib from a height of 1-2 feet 'multiple times'" and "would sometimes push down on his chest knowing she could hurt the child." The Sacramento Bee article adds that she "backhanded her son in another incident hard enough to leave a bruise on his forehead."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The FOX 13 article explicitly states: "As the baby was struggling, Harkins did not seek medical assistance for her child." The infant was breathing "off and on before stopping altogether" after being punched in the head, and Harkins failed to call for help during this period, constituting 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 FOX 13 article states Harkins admitted she "gave her son a punch to the head" and it was a "hard punch," which constitutes abusive head trauma. The Sacramento Bee article also notes she "backhanded her son in another incident hard enough to leave a bruise on his forehead," further documenting inflicted head trauma.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
The FOX 13 article describes a pattern of deliberate cruelty over an extended period: Harkins admitted to "multiple incidents of abuse over the past two weeks," including throwing the infant into his crib from 1-2 feet "multiple times" and pushing down on his chest "knowing she could hurt the child." The Sacramento Bee article adds that she also "backhanded her son in another incident hard enough to leave a bruise on his forehead." This pattern of deliberately inflicting harm on a defenseless 2-month-old over two weeks, with full knowledge of the potential for injury, extends beyond a single episode of physical abuse into a sustained course of intentional cruelty.
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?
Both articles identify Brycee Jo Harkins as the child's mother. The FOX 13 article describes "A woman in Riverdale has been arrested after allegedly killing her 2-month-old son." She admitted to punching the child, throwing him into his crib, and pushing on his chest. The Sacramento Bee headline states "Mom accused of killing 2-month-old son."
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 FOX 13 article states "Brycee Jo Harkins, 26, was taken into custody Monday and faces one charge of aggravated murder." The Sacramento Bee article confirms "Harkins, 27, was arrested and booked into the Weber County Jail on an aggravated murder charge, according to jail 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
The FOX 13 article notes: "The police report claimed that there was another child in the home at the time officers responded to the death of the infant, but released no other information." This detail about another child in the home is substantive because it suggests potential risk to a sibling and raises questions about whether that child was also exposed to abuse. Additionally, there is a discrepancy in the suspect's reported age between the two sources — 26 in the FOX 13 article and 27 in the Sacramento Bee article.
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