Wyatt David Hamlin
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CANDID ID: WI_22_812
AGE
Infant
STATE
Wisconsin
DATE OF DEATH
3/1/2022
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
Four-month-old Wyatt Hamlin was dropped off at JoAnna Ford's home daycare in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, at 7:15 a.m. on February 25, 2022. Ford was the only adult present that day, with a 1.5-year-old and Ford's own children (ages 6-11) also in the home. Ford left the children unattended to visit a tattoo and piercing shop in Dodgeville from approximately 2 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. Around 3:30 p.m., Ford sent the baby's mother videos showing the infant breathing rapidly and wearing only a diaper. The father picked up the baby just after 3:45 p.m. and took him to a Dodgeville hospital, where CT scans revealed brain swelling. Wyatt was airlifted to American Family Children's Hospital where he was diagnosed with severe traumatic brain injury, a possible tibia fracture, a bruise to the back of his head, and hemorrhages on his face. A nurse practitioner diagnosed the case as "Definitive physical abuse of a child." Wyatt died on March 1, 2022. Ford was charged with first-degree reckless homicide and five counts of child neglect, but ultimately pleaded guilty to the neglect charges while the homicide charge was dismissed. She was sentenced to 11 years in prison and 12 years of extended supervision.
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)?

Document 1 states: "Authorities allege Ford was negligent in leaving the baby at her home unattended while she went to an appointment and created a serious risk of potential harm to the child." Ford left the 4-month-old baby and a 1.5-year-old in the home while she traveled to a tattoo and piercing shop in Dodgeville from approximately 2 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. The only other people at the home were Ford's own children, ages 6 to 11.

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

Document 1 states that autopsy results showed "severe traumatic brain injury and a possible fracture to his left tibia bone" as well as "a small bruise to the back of his head, as well as small hemorrhages over his face and under his right eye." A UW Health nurse practitioner diagnosed the case as "Definitive physical abuse of a child." Doctors stated the injuries "happened within hours prior to the child arriving at the hospital."

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?

While the terms "shaken baby syndrome" or "abusive head trauma" are not explicitly used, the clinical findings described in Document 1 are consistent with abusive head trauma in a 4-month-old: "severe traumatic brain injury," brain swelling on CT scans, "small hemorrhages over his face and under his right eye," and "a small bruise to the back of his head." The injuries were diagnosed as "Definitive physical abuse of a child" and occurred in an infant with no "underlying genetic or metabolic conditions." These findings in an infant of this age strongly imply 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?

Multiple documents identify JoAnna Ford as a daycare provider who was caring for the child at her home. Document 1 states: "The woman charged in the death of an infant in her care" and describes how the mother "dropped him off at 7:15 a.m., on Feb. 25, at the daycare provider's home in the City of Mineral Point, where Ford provided care for him." Document 2 describes her as a "daycare worker charged with neglect in death of infant in her care." Document 4 describes her as "A Mineral Point daycare provider."

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?

JoAnna Ford was charged and arrested in connection with the child's death. Document 1 states she was "accused in the death of four-month-old Wyatt Hamlin" and charged with "first-degree reckless homicide" and "five counts of neglecting a child." Document 2 confirms she "pleaded guilty in February to one count of neglecting a child resulting in death and four other counts of neglecting a child" and was sentenced to 11 years in prison followed by 12 years of extended supervision.

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?

Document 1 describes the caregiver JoAnna Ford being arrested in November 2023 for "driving while intoxicated with a someone under 16 in the car." During her court appearance, "Prosecutors argued she was likely under the influence of an illegal substance. The results of blood tests are still pending." While this incident occurred after the child's death, it references substance use by the caregiver involved in the child's death.

Notable Details

Several notable details emerge from the documents. First, Ford was initially charged with first-degree reckless homicide, but this charge was dismissed and "read in" as part of a plea deal (Document 2: "that charge was dismissed but read in in February"), despite medical evidence of "Definitive physical abuse of a child." Ford ultimately pleaded guilty only to neglect charges. Second, while on bail awaiting trial for the homicide and neglect charges, Ford was arrested for OWI with a minor in the car and charged with three counts of felony bail jumping (Document 1), indicating ongoing child endangerment behavior. Third, Ford operated what appears to be a home daycare where she left a 4-month-old victim, a 1.5-year-old, and her own children (ages 6-11) unattended while she visited a tattoo and piercing shop, raising questions about oversight of home daycare operations.

Lives Cut Short