On September 3, 2022, Porshea Evans and her boyfriend Dequan Foreman returned home intoxicated after drinking heavily and smoking marijuana at a friend's gathering. Evans placed her 11-month-old son and 4-year-old daughter in a bedroom, and the couple then left the apartment to pick up food, leaving the children unattended for approximately one hour. During this time, the baby fell from a bed and sustained a serious head injury with significant swelling to the left side of his head. When Foreman checked on the children upon returning, he found the baby on the floor but assumed the child was merely sleeping, noting snoring sounds. Foreman placed the child in a portable crib around 9:30 p.m. Between 4-6 a.m. the next morning, they noticed the baby was in the same position and his skin was cold, but Evans merely placed a blanket on him and both adults went back to sleep. At approximately 9:30 a.m., Foreman found the child still in the same position, not breathing and with no pulse. The child was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center and pronounced dead at 10:22 a.m. on September 4, 2022 — more than 14 hours after the injury. Both Evans and Foreman were charged with felony child neglect.
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)?
Multiple sources explicitly describe the children being left unattended. The Daily Press article states "the couple left the boy and his 4-year-old sister unattended for about an hour." The WTKR article says "the children were left at home for no more than an hour." Detective Ruhlen's criminal complaint states: "It appears the only time (the baby) was able to fall off the bed was when he and (the sister) were left in the residence unattended." The fatal fall occurred during this period of 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?
While not explicitly labeled as "medical neglect," the documents describe a significant failure to seek medical care. The Daily Press article states that "more than 14 hours passed before he was taken to the hospital." Between 4-6 a.m., Foreman noticed the baby "was in the exact same position" and Evans "noticed his skin was cold to the touch" but merely "placed a blanket on the boy and both she and Foreman went back to bed." They did not check the child's breathing or seek medical attention despite these alarming signs, waiting until after 9 a.m. to act. This delay in seeking necessary medical care constitutes implied medical neglect.
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
The Daily Press article states that "Evans got into a minor car accident on the way home, delaying the couple's return." While this accident did not directly cause the child's death, it is explicitly mentioned as part of the timeline and contributed to the delay in returning to the unattended children.
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?
The Daily Press article states Evans "brought the children inside and put them down in a bedroom," and later the 4-year-old told them the baby "had fallen from the bed." The WTKR article notes "The child's bed had netting on the sides to prevent him from falling," suggesting the child was placed on a regular bed without safety features rather than in his own crib with netting. An 11-month-old placed unsupervised on a regular bed represents an unsafe sleeping arrangement. Additionally, Foreman later placed the child in a "portable crib" for the night, implying the initial placement was not in the crib.
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?
The fatality report (Document 4) lists "mother" as one of the abusers. Porshea Evans, the biological mother, was charged with felony child neglect. The Daily Press article states she was charged with "felony child neglect in the death of the child" and describes her role in leaving the children unattended and failing to seek timely medical care.
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)?
The fatality report lists "mother's paramour" as one of the abusers. Dequan Foreman, described as Evans' boyfriend, was charged with felony child neglect. The Daily Press article states "Foreman, who was not the baby's father" and notes he was Evans' boyfriend, confirming his status as a male paramour involved in the death.
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?
Both adults were charged. The WTKR article states: "Porshea Tonika Evans was arrested September 4, 2022, and charged with Felony abuse/neglect of a child and Contribute to the delinquency of a minor. Dequan Foreman was charged with Felony child neglect." The Daily Press article elaborates that they face "up to 15 years in prison if convicted of both counts."
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 Daily Press article states: "Foreman, who has a past criminal record, is being held without bond but has appealed that decision." This explicitly references prior criminal history for Foreman that predates the current incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Both caregivers' substance use is extensively documented. The Daily Press article states: "Foreman told detectives he drank 'too much,' and Evans said she drank 'a lot.' Evans also told police that she and Foreman had smoked marijuana earlier that day." The WTKR article also reports: "Evans and Foreman drank alcohol and smoked marijuana." The father of the children also alleged in protective order paperwork that "Evans and Foreman 'came home intoxicated and fell asleep.'"
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the documents. First, the Daily Press article describes an unusual intervening event: "Evans got into a minor car accident on the way home, delaying the couple's return. While police were at the couple's home investigating the accident, Foreman said he went inside to check on the kids." This means police were present at the home while the injured child was inside, but neither the couple nor the officers realized the child was seriously hurt. Second, the biological father of both children sought custody of the 4-year-old and filed a protective order, asserting that Evans and Foreman "came home intoxicated and fell asleep" before the boy's fall. Third, the fatality report notes the "Autopsy report not documented," suggesting potential gaps in the official investigation. The combination of police presence at the scene unknowingly, the extreme 14+ hour delay in seeking medical care, and heavy intoxication of both caregivers represent significant compounding failures in this case.
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