Five-week-old Jayleen Schindler-Raj (J.S.R.) died on January 24, 2023, in Kent, Washington, while bed-sharing with her intoxicated mother. The mother admitted to drinking eight beers before going to sleep, while the father estimated she drank 18 to 20 beers. At 4:00 a.m., J.S.R. was observed sleeping on her back; when the mother woke at 9:45 a.m., J.S.R. was on her stomach and was not breathing. The father performed CPR, but J.S.R. was pronounced dead at the scene. The family had an open CPS investigation at the time due to concerns about the mother's excessive alcohol use, bed-sharing with the infant, and domestic violence. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID) with an undetermined manner of death.
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 fatality report indicates the mother was severely intoxicated (8 to 20 beers) while being the caregiver for J.S.R. The father also reported that the mother was left alone with the children when she "chases him out of the apartment." A parent being heavily intoxicated while solely responsible for a five-week-old infant constitutes inappropriate supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The fatality report states that the father reported the mother "had been physically rough with" the older sibling. While this pertains to J.S.R.'s sibling rather than J.S.R. directly, it constitutes a mention of inflicted physical mistreatment of a child in the family.
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 fatality report states that the father reported the mother "had drank throughout the pregnancy." This is a direct allegation of prenatal alcohol exposure for J.S.R.
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 fatality report extensively documents unsafe sleeping conditions. It states "the mother was intoxicated and bed sharing with five-week-old J.S.R." The father reported the mother "was bedsharing with the newborn and refused to use the crib or swing." Safe Sleep education was discussed multiple times, and DCYF provided a pack and play to create a safe sleep environment. Despite these interventions, J.S.R. died while bed-sharing with the intoxicated mother.
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 explicitly describes the biological mother as bed-sharing with J.S.R. while intoxicated on the night J.S.R. died. "The mother said she drank eight beers before going to sleep" and was bed-sharing with J.S.R. "When the mother woke at 9:45 a.m., J.S.R. was on ■■■ stomach and was not breathing." The mother's actions directly constituted the circumstances of J.S.R.'s 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 fatality report documents an extensive prior CPS history. "Prior to J.S.R.'s birth, DCYF received three intakes reporting concerns for the welfare of J.S.R.'s older sibling." In October 2021, a CPS investigation was assigned, and in February 2022, "The mother was assigned a founded finding of negligent treatment." Then on December 30, 2022, DCYF received a new report about both children, leading to an open CPS investigation at the time of J.S.R.'s 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?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report repeatedly references domestic violence. Prior intakes alleged "DV in the home." The caseworker "spoke with the father about the allegations of excessive alcohol use and DV." The father reported "there was one altercation three weeks ago when she was intoxicated" and later said "the mother was physical with him one time before." DV was discussed with both parents during home visits.
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?
The fatality report states: "The Committee believed that both the mother and father had unaddressed behavioral health needs that may have warranted further intervention." While "behavioral health" is a broad term encompassing both mental health and substance use, the mention of the father having "unaddressed behavioral health needs" — where no substance use is documented for the father — implies mental health concerns beyond substance use.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report extensively documents the mother's alcohol use. The father reported the mother "was drinking to intoxication and breastfeeding J.S.R." and "usually drank 18 beers daily." The mother admitted to drinking "eight beers before going to sleep" on the night of J.S.R.'s death, while the father said she drank "more like 18 to 20 beers." The Committee's SUD expert identified the mother "may have had an undiagnosed alcohol use disorder."
Notable Details
The fatality report describes significant systemic issues that impacted the case. The CPS program was "operating with an approximately 50% vacancy rate" and new caseworkers were "being assigned full caseloads immediately" rather than receiving recommended capped caseloads after training. The assigned caseworker "did not review the case history prior to their initial contact with the family," which the Committee identified as "a potential disconnect in completing a thorough assessment of the family's current needs and in assessing child safety." The Committee also discussed potential bias regarding alcohol as a legal substance: "The Committee discussed cases involving a parent using alcohol, a legal substance, versus an illegal substance and wondered if bias may have impacted critical thinking about the mother's substance use." The mother declined a SUD assessment, urinalysis, and other services, and the Committee suggested a Family Team Decision Making meeting may have been beneficial. The Committee recommended changes to the intake reporting system including checkboxes for safety threats and links to historical case information.
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