Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

The fatality report describes the mother driving under the suspected influence of substances with F.A. as the sole other occupant, resulting in a fatal crash. The report also references "allegations of parental lack of supervision" among the 12 intakes received. While the fatal incident involves impaired driving rather than a child wandering off, placing an infant in a vehicle while driving under the influence constitutes a form of inappropriate supervision resulting in the child's death.

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

The fatality report states: "one of F.A.'s older siblings told an employee at the Boys and Girls Club that their mother and F.A. were hit by F.A.'s father while the mother was holding F.A." It also describes an incident where "F.A.'s father slapped the mother on the face while she was breast feeding the baby. He then dragged the mother out of the trailer by her hair." These constitute mentions of inflicted injury to both F.A. and the mother.

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

The fatality report states F.A.'s mother "did not obtain prenatal care and did not bring F.A. back for follow up medical care as directed at discharge." It further notes: "The pediatrician said the mother does not regularly bring in her children." These constitute explicit references to medical neglect.

Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?

The fatality report states: "F.A.'s mother was driving a vehicle and F.A. was the only other occupant. F.A.'s mother was observed driving erratically before her vehicle crashed." The ME report confirms: "Date of Incident: 7/7/2024" with cause of death as "Blunt force injuries to head and neck."

Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?

The fatality report states: "F.A.'s umbilical cord test results were positive for methamphetamines and cannabis." Additionally, "at the birth [the] mother tested positive for cannabis." These findings confirm prenatal substance exposure.

Is there any mention of sexual abuse?

The fatality report states: "Then in 2021, LE investigated a case of sexual assault to the mother's [redacted] child by a family friend." This is an explicit mention of sexual abuse involving a sibling in the family.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

The fatality report states: "F.A.'s mother was driving a vehicle and F.A. was the only other occupant. F.A.'s mother was observed driving erratically before her vehicle crashed. It was believed that F.A.'s mother was under the influence of substances." The report further notes: "The DCYF investigation resulted in a founded finding for negligent treatment or maltreatment by F.A.'s mother."

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

The fatality report states: "Prior to F.A.'s death, DCYF received 12 intakes regarding [the] family. Of the 12 intakes, 10 were received after F.A. was born and five of the 10 intakes were assigned for a CPS investigation or FAR assessment. In the 12 intakes there were allegations of parental lack of supervision, domestic violence (DV), sexual assault by a family friend, physical abuse, and parental substance use."

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The fatality report contains multiple references to domestic violence. A sibling reported that "their mother and F.A. were hit by F.A.'s father while the mother was holding F.A." A relative reported that "the mother's boyfriend (F.A.'s father) is violent with the mother. This included smashing her windshield... and an incident where the mother was holding F.A., feeding [the baby] and F.A.'s father slapped the mother on the face while she was breast feeding the baby. He then dragged the mother out of the trailer by her hair." DOC also "had heard that the father was beating the mother in front of her children."

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

The fatality report documents that F.A.'s father had significant prior criminal history predating the child's death: he was under DOC (Department of Corrections) supervision with a probation officer, the DOC supervisor referenced "physical changes she has seen for F.A.'s mother since the father was released from prison," he had been released from jail on May 3, 2024, he had an active arrest warrant for not reporting to his probation officer, and on June 26 "he assaulted his cell mate and was subsequently criminally charged with assault." All of these predate F.A.'s death on July 14, 2024.

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Substance use by both parents is extensively documented. The fatality report notes the mother tested positive for cannabis at birth, F.A.'s umbilical cord tested positive for methamphetamines and cannabis, the mother's oral swab was positive for methamphetamines, and methamphetamine was found throughout the family's trailer. The father was also found with methamphetamine on his body and in the trailer, and "smoked cannabis and drank alcohol" at a funeral. The mother was "suspected of driving under the influence of substances" at the time of the fatal crash.

The fatality report documents several significant systemic issues. First, on May 16, DOC and LE found "methamphetamine throughout the family's trailer and on the father's body" including "methamphetamine residue on furniture and next to the crib as well as a meth pipe next to the crib," yet "They did not place F.A. in protective custody." Second, the January investigation was "closed as unable to complete due to the parent's lack of cooperation with the investigation." Third, the Committee heard that "there was no urinalysis collection sites in the Mt. Vernon catchment area," requiring oral swabs instead. Fourth, on July 3—just 11 days before the death—"a relative called DCYF to report that F.A. was unsafe because the mother is using drugs," but "The intake was closed at screening because it did not contain any new allegations of abuse or neglect." Fifth, the Committee discussed significant staff safety concerns, noting that F.A.'s father "posed enough of a threat to LE and probation officers that those agencies required more than one person to respond at all times and at one point a drone was used" before contact, yet DCYF staff were expected to interact with the family without equivalent protections.