A newborn boy, born on December 25 in Port Townsend, Washington, tested positive for fentanyl at birth along with his mother. The Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) gave the father, 37-year-old Jordan Sorensen, temporary custody with the condition that he pass a clean urine test to be alone with the child. Sorensen repeatedly evaded DCYF oversight, missing appointments and not responding to messages. On January 19, Sorensen allegedly kidnapped the child while hiding from Child Protective Services. According to Sorensen's account, he fell asleep with the infant on his lap and awoke to find the baby face down between him and the chair with blood coming from his face. Rather than seeking help, Sorensen placed the deceased child in a car seat and concealed it under bushes at Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park, where the infant was later found with dried blood around his nose and mouth. Sorensen was arrested and charged with unlawful disposal of human remains and concealment of a dead body, with potential manslaughter or murder charges pending the results of a post-mortem examination.
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)?
The news article describes Sorensen falling asleep while holding the newborn on his lap, resulting in the child ending up "face down between him and the chair with blood coming from his face." Additionally, police were searching for Sorensen on charges of "criminal mistreatment, and reckless endangerment because he could not give the child the 'basic necessities of life.'" This constitutes inappropriate supervision of a newborn.
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)?
The news article states: "The Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) reportedly learned the next day that the baby and his mother tested positive for fentanyl." This establishes prenatal fentanyl exposure, as the positive test was at birth.
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 news article states that Sorensen "told police he fell asleep with the child on his lap, but when he woke up, the baby 'was face down between him and the chair with blood coming from his face.'" Falling asleep with a newborn on one's lap in a chair is a recognized unsafe sleeping arrangement.
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The news article identifies Jordan Sorensen as the father of the child, stating "his newborn child was found dead" and that "Officials gave Sorensen temporary custody of the child." Sorensen was in direct care of the child when the death occurred; he told police the baby died while he fell asleep with the child on his lap.
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)?
The news article describes extensive DCYF involvement prior to the child's death: DCYF learned the day after birth that the baby and mother tested positive for fentanyl, gave Sorensen temporary custody with conditions, visited his home on Jan. 1, took him for a urine test on Jan. 4, and attempted further contact on Jan. 11. The child's mother also "contacted DCYF and said there were 'big problems'" on Jan. 16. This constitutes a clear history of child protection involvement prior to death.
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: "Jail records show Sorensen is being held on charges of unlawful disposal of human remains and removal/concealment of a dead body." He was also searched for regarding "charges of kidnapping, criminal mistreatment, and reckless endangerment." However, the prosecutor explicitly states Sorensen "has not been charged with manslaughter or murder because officials are still waiting for results from the post-mortem exam." While Sorensen was arrested and charged with offenses directly related to the child's death circumstances, he was not charged specifically with causing the death.
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?
The news article states that "the baby and his mother tested positive for fentanyl," indicating the mother's fentanyl use. Additionally, DCYF required Sorensen to "submit a clean urine test in order to spend time with the baby alone," strongly implying suspected substance use by the father. He was taken by DCYF "to a doctor to get a urine test" and subsequently failed to appear for a scheduled test.
Notable Details
The news article highlights several notable systemic concerns. Jefferson County Prosecutor James Kennedy expressed concern about the DCYF decision to give Sorensen custody, stating: "I have a lot of concerns about how the suspect ended up with the child in the first place." DCYF gave Sorensen temporary custody despite the fentanyl-positive results for both mother and baby, with only the condition of a clean urine test. Sorensen then evaded DCYF oversight — he was not home on Jan. 1, failed to reply to text messages about a Jan. 11 urine test, and ultimately fled with the child. The child's mother contacted DCYF on Jan. 16 reporting "big problems," but the child was not recovered until after his death. Additionally, the prosecutor noted the difficulty of filing charges, saying: "if there was no intentional, reckless or grossly negligent action that resulted in the death of another, I'm going to have very little in which I can charge an individual with."
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