On September 6, 2023, a 15-month-old Black male child was found unresponsive and blue on a bed in the home of his biological parents, Brittany Basley and Lavon Liggins, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Despite being in court-ordered kinship care with a relative, the child was at the parents' home at the time of death. The Medical Examiner determined the child died due to the toxic effects of fentanyl, with the time of death estimated between 1-2 a.m. The mother, Basley, admitted to using fentanyl and was the only adult in the bed with the child that night. At the time of death, the couple was facing a CPS hearing to place the children under guardianship due to Basley's drug use. Both parents were arrested and charged with Neglecting a Child Causing Death. Basley later pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of child neglect leading to great bodily harm, while Liggins's case proceeded toward trial.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Multiple sources confirm the child died from drug exposure. The WXOW article states: "Autopsy reports later determined that the child died 'due to the toxic effects of fentanyl.'" The fatality report states: "The Medical Examiner's Office determined the infant had controlled substances in his system." The WIZMN article reports: "Investigators believe the child died from exposure to the drug fentanyl in the household."
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?
The WIZMN news article explicitly states: "The victim's father, Lavon Liggins, also was charged with child neglect." The fatality report substantiated "maltreatment of neglect to the infant by the mother and father." The WXOW article states that Liggins was aware of Basley's drug use but did not prevent the child's exposure to fentanyl. He was charged with Neglecting a Child-Consequence is Death.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report substantiated "maltreatment of neglect to the infant by the mother and father." The WXOW article details that Brittany Basley "was the only one in the bed with the child," admitted she "had used fentanyl," and the child died from fentanyl toxicity. She was charged with Neglecting a Child-Consequence is Death and later convicted of the lesser charge of child neglect leading to great bodily harm (WIZMN article).
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?
The fatality report identifies the child's residence at time of incident as "Out-of-home care placement" and states: "the infant was residing with a relative through court-ordered kinship care. The infant was originally placed in out-of-home care on June 4, 2022, after being taken into Temporary Physical Custody due to concerns regarding neglect." While this was kinship care (unlicensed), it was court-ordered out-of-home care.
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
The fatality report states: "the infant was residing with a relative through court-ordered kinship care" and "the infant resided with a relative and his 3-year-old sibling." The child's official residence was with a relative, not with the biological parents, though the child was physically found deceased at the parents' home at the time of the incident.
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 extensive prior CPS involvement. The infant was "originally placed in out-of-home care on June 4, 2022, after being taken into Temporary Physical Custody due to concerns regarding neglect." The infant's sibling "was originally placed in out-of-home care on September 2, 2020, after being taken into Temporary Physical Custody due to allegations of neglect by the mother and father." The WXOW article states: "At the time of the child's death, the couple was facing a Child Protective Services hearing that would place the children under guardianship due to Basley's drug use."
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 news8000 article states: "43-year-old Lavon Liggins and 34-year-old Brittany M. Basley were taken into custody Wednesday. Both are being charged with Neglecting a Child Causing Death." The WXOW article confirms both were charged with "one felony count of Neglecting a Child-Consequence is Death-Party to the Crime as a Repeater." The WIZMN article reports Basley later pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of child neglect leading to great bodily harm.
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?
The WXOW article states both defendants face charges "as a Repeater." Under Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. § 939.62), the "repeater" sentencing enhancer requires proof of prior convictions within the preceding five years. The application of this enhancer to both Basley and Liggins implies that both have prior criminal records separate from the current child death charges.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The WXOW article states: "When questioned about drug use, Basley admitted she had used fentanyl but was going to a Methadone clinic to try to get clean." It also states: "Liggins was aware of Basley's drug use but that she would never use in front of him but would use in private." The WXOW article notes the CPS hearing was due to "Basley's drug use."
Notable Details
Several notable systemic and legal details emerge from the documents. The fatality report states the child was in court-ordered kinship care (out-of-home placement) but "was pronounced deceased in the home of his mother and father," raising significant questions about how the child came to be at the parents' home while in OHC. The WXOW article states: "At the time of the child's death, the couple was facing a Child Protective Services hearing that would place the children under guardianship due to Basley's drug use," meaning the system was actively moving toward guardianship but the child died before the hearing took place. The DSP's review notes "The DSP will conduct a further review in this case," suggesting potential policy or practice concerns. Additionally, the WIZMN article reports Basley "reached a plea agreement in court, pleading no contest to child neglect, leading to great bodily harm" — a reduction from the original charge of child neglect leading to death — and a user comment indicates she received 4 years with 1 year served, though this detail is unverified.
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