unnamed child
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CANDID ID: WI_22_1832
AGE
2   years
STATE
Wisconsin
DATE OF DEATH
6/16/2022
MEDIA
Not Available
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On June 16, 2022, a 2-year-old Black/African American male child was pronounced deceased in his home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The child had been living with his aunt, his twin sibling, three other siblings, and two cousins. The Medical Examiner's office noted no signs of trauma; toxicology results were pending at the time of the report. Law enforcement conducted a criminal investigation but no charges were filed. The agency's Initial Assessment found insufficient evidence to substantiate maltreatment of neglect by the aunt. The remaining children in the home were determined safe and continued living with the aunt.
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)?

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?

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)?

The fatality report explicitly states: "At the time of the incident, the child lived with his aunt, his 2-year-old twin sibling, his 7-year-old sibling, his 11-year-old sibling, his 15-year-old sibling, his 10-year-old cousin, and his 14-year-old cousin." Additionally, "The child's mother did not have visitation, and the child's father had occasional visitation." The child was living with a relative (aunt), not with either parent.

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 history of CPS reports involving the child, his siblings, and other children in the household. Regarding the child's mother, there were screened-in CPS reports on December 22, 2021, October 1, 2021, and May 20, 2021 alleging neglect to the child and/or siblings, all unsubstantiated. Additional reports date back to 2005 and include a substantiated allegation of physical abuse by the mother in January 2006. Regarding the aunt, there were numerous CPS reports from 2004 through 2019 alleging physical abuse and neglect to various children in her care, all unsubstantiated.

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?

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?

Notable Details

The fatality report reveals a notable systemic pattern: the aunt who was the child's caregiver at the time of death had an extensive history of CPS reports spanning from 2004 to 2019, with approximately 15 screened-in reports alleging primarily physical abuse of multiple children in her care, yet all allegations were unsubstantiated. Despite this extensive pattern, the child and his siblings were placed in the aunt's home after the mother lost visitation. Additionally, the report notes toxicology results remain pending and "The DSP will conduct a further review in this case," indicating the review was not yet complete at the time of the 90-day report. The cause of death is essentially undetermined as of the report date.

Lives Cut Short