On October 28, 2022, 13-month-old Kastin Rodriguez was placed in a bathtub by his father, Jonnathan Kaimana Rodriguez, at the WoodSpring Suites hotel on Tapteal Drive in Richland, Washington, where the family had been living. The father started the water, plugged the drain, and then walked away for 10 to 15 minutes, reportedly to look for bath accessories. He returned to find the baby face down in the tub. The child was transported to a hospital, ultimately reaching Seattle, where he was declared dead on October 30, 2022. The cause of death was anoxic encephalopathy due to drowning. Investigation revealed a pattern of neglect: hotel employees had previously found the child left alone in the room, and on the same day as the drowning, an employee conducted a welfare check finding the baby shut in the bathroom while the father slept. Multiple witnesses reported the father yelling aggressively at the child. The father was charged with second-degree manslaughter and pleaded not guilty. The medical examiner ruled the manner of death as undetermined.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
All three documents confirm a drowning incident. The Tri-City Herald states "his baby drowned in a bathtub on Sunday." The NBC article describes "a suspicious drowning at the WoodSpring Suites on Tapteal Drive." The ME report lists cause of death as "Anoxic encephalopathy; Drowning."
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Multiple documents describe a clear pattern of inappropriate supervision. The Tri-City Herald reports that Rodriguez "placed the boy in the tub, started the water and plugged the bathtub, before walking away for 10 to 15 minutes." Additionally, "Investigators also spoke to hotel employees who said the father had previously left the child alone on several occasions." A maintenance worker "walked into the room and found the child alone" on Oct 27, and on Oct 28 an employee "found the baby shut in the bathroom with the door closed and Rodriguez asleep on the bed." The NBC article states "RPD states the investigation shows Rodriguez had a pattern of neglecting the child."
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)?
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 Tri-City Herald identifies Jonnathan Kaimana Rodriguez as the father and refers to Kastin Rodriguez as "his 13-month-old son." He placed the child in the bathtub and walked away, directly causing the drowning. He is consistently referred to as the child's father across both news articles.
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 Tri-City Herald states "Jonnathan Kaimana Rodriguez, 24, was booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of manslaughter on Thursday night." The NBC article confirms "He has been charged with second-degree manslaughter. He pleaded not guilty on November 9."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
The Tri-City Herald states Rodriguez "has been living in Tri-Cities-area hotels, according to prosecutors." The incident took place at the WoodSpring Suites hotel on Tapteal Drive, as identified in the NBC article. This indicates the family was living in a hotel, which qualifies as a temporary shelter 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
Several notable details emerge. The ME report lists the death city as Seattle while the incident occurred in Richland, indicating the child was likely transferred to a Seattle hospital (possibly Harborview or Seattle Children's) for advanced medical care after the drowning incident on October 28, and died two days later on October 30. The cause of death, "Anoxic encephalopathy; Drowning" (per the ME report), confirms the child survived the initial submersion but suffered fatal brain damage. Additionally, the ME report ruled manner of death as "Undetermined," despite the father being charged with second-degree manslaughter — a notable discrepancy between forensic and prosecutorial determinations. The family appears to have been experiencing housing instability, having moved from Prineville, Oregon to live in Tri-Cities-area hotels.
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