On July 7, 2022, a 22-month-old girl was found unresponsive in a York County, Virginia home and pronounced dead at the scene. She had been living with her parents, Anna Raines and Jesse Gunn, in a single room within her maternal grandfather's (Dr. Timothy Raines, a family medicine physician) house. The room was in severe disarray with used syringes, heroin in capsules, cigarette butts in the child's crib, urine-soaked blankets, trash, and an overflowing litter box — all within the toddler's reach. The mother had left the child with the father to meet her drug dealer at approximately 2 a.m., and by the time authorities arrived the next morning, lividity had already set in on the child's body. The cause of death was determined to be an acute combined fentanyl and xylazine overdose with nicotine exposure. The child had been known to CPS since birth due to neonatal abstinence syndrome, and the grandfather had pledged to be involved in her care. Both parents pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and child abuse, and the grandfather was separately charged with child abuse.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Multiple documents describe the child's death as resulting from drug ingestion/overdose. The Law&Crime article states the cause of death was "acute combined fentanyl and Xylazine overdose in addition to nicotine exposure." The fatality report (Virginia2023_7.7.2022-1.pdf) states "Cause of death is acute combined overdose with tobacco exposure." Document 3 also notes that drugs, including "capsules containing heroin," were "within the toddler's reach."
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)?
Document 2 (WAVY) states: "Anna Raines said she left the girl with Jesse Gunn to meet her drug dealer around 2 a.m." Document 3 (Law&Crime) describes how "multiple used syringes as well as a plastic bin with new syringes" and "capsules containing heroin" were all "within the toddler's reach." The child died from ingesting drugs that were left accessible, which constitutes inappropriate supervision.
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)?
Document 1 (WAVY) states: "when the child was born, Child Protective Services opened an investigation because the newborn had neonatal abstinence syndrome." The fatality report (Virginia2023_7.7.2022-1.pdf) states: "In September 2020, York DSS opened a Family Assessment due to the decedent being born substance exposed and experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms."
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 Law&Crime article (Document 3) explicitly describes the child's crib as unsafe: "the victim's crib was littered with cigarette butts, loose change, and a pile of urine-soaked blankets." These items constitute a hazardous sleeping environment for a toddler, and drugs and syringes were also accessible within the same room.
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Jesse Gunn is identified as the child's father across multiple documents. Document 1 (WAVY) refers to "father Jesse Gunn." Document 3 (Law&Crime) refers to Raines and Gunn as "the parents." The fatality report lists "father" as one of the abusers. Gunn was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and child abuse.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Anna Raines is identified as the child's mother across all documents. Document 1 (WAVY) identifies her as a parent. Document 3 (Law&Crime) refers to Raines and Gunn as "the parents." The fatality report lists "mother" as one of the abusers. She was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and child abuse.
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)
The child's maternal grandfather, Dr. Timothy Lee Raines, was also charged with child abuse — disregard for life. Document 1 (WAVY) identifies him as "grandfather Dr. Timothy Raines" who faces felony charges. Document 3 (Law&Crime) states: "he was arrested a few weeks later and also charged with child abuse — disregard for life." The fatality report lists "grandfather" as one of the abusers.
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)?
Multiple documents confirm a prior CPS history. Document 1 (WAVY) states: "when the child was born, Child Protective Services opened an investigation because the newborn had neonatal abstinence syndrome." The fatality report (Virginia2023_7.7.2022-1.pdf) states: "In September 2020, York DSS opened a Family Assessment due to the decedent being born substance exposed and experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms. The assessed risk was high and an in-home case was opened with the family; services were provided."
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?
All three adults were charged. Document 3 (Law&Crime) states: "Anna E. Raines and Jesse A. Gunn… both pleaded guilty last month to one count of voluntary manslaughter and child abuse — disregard for life." Regarding the grandfather, Document 3 also states: "he was arrested a few weeks later and also charged with child abuse — disregard for life." Document 1 (WAVY) confirms all three face felony charges.
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?
Multiple documents describe parent substance use. Document 2 (WAVY) states: "Anna Raines said she left the girl with Jesse Gunn to meet her drug dealer around 2 a.m." Document 3 (Law&Crime) describes "multiple used syringes as well as a plastic bin with new syringes" and "capsules containing heroin" found in the bedroom. Document 1 (WAVY) references "multiple components of syringes" and "suspected heroin inside gelatin capsules." The child was also born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, indicating prenatal parental substance use.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the text. First, the child's maternal grandfather, Dr. Timothy Lee Raines, is a practicing family medicine physician who was aware of the deplorable conditions — text messages show him calling the home a "pig's sty" and stating "that is an unacceptable environment for a 16-month-old" (Document 1) — yet he failed to intervene despite telling CPS he would be "heavily involved in the infant's care" (Document 1). Second, the charges against the parents were initially felony child neglect, then upgraded to felony homicide after the autopsy, before being resolved through plea deals for voluntary manslaughter (Document 3). Third, there is a notable discrepancy between the WAVY article (Document 2), which states "five years with one suspended" for the child abuse charge (yielding 14 years total for Raines), and the Law&Crime article (Document 3), which states "five years each on the child abuse charge, with four of the five years suspended" (yielding 11 years total each). Fourth, the fatality report (Document 4) additionally notes "laboratory evidence of SARS-COVID-19 viral infection" as part of the cause of death finding, a detail not mentioned in news coverage.
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