A 16-year-old female with complex medical needs was pronounced deceased on January 20, 2023, and her 13-year-old brother, also with complex medical needs, was pronounced deceased 11 days later on January 31, 2023. The Medical Examiner's Office determined both deaths were due to complications of a medical condition. The Walworth County agency substantiated neglect of both children by their mother and father. No criminal charges were filed. The family's four surviving siblings were deemed unsafe, and Petitions for Protection or Services were filed, though the children remained with the parents. An unrelated foster child in the home was also deemed unsafe and relocated to another foster home.
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?
The fatality report states that both children had "complex medical needs" (listed under Special Needs) and that the Medical Examiner determined both deaths were "due to complications of a medical condition." The agency "found a preponderance of the evidence to substantiate neglect of the 16-year-old by her mother and father" and similarly for the 13-year-old. The combination of children with complex medical needs who died from complications of a medical condition, with neglect substantiated, strongly implies medical neglect even though the term "medical neglect" is not explicitly used.
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 fatality report states that "The Initial Assessment completed by the agency found a preponderance of the evidence to substantiate neglect of the 16-year-old by her mother and father" and similarly for the 13-year-old. The children resided with "their mother" and "father," which in CPS reporting convention typically denotes the biological father. No qualifying language such as "stepfather" or "foster father" is used.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report states that "The Initial Assessment completed by the agency found a preponderance of the evidence to substantiate neglect of the 16-year-old by her mother and father" and similarly for the 13-year-old. The children resided with "their mother," which in CPS reporting convention typically denotes the biological mother. No qualifying language such as "stepmother" or "foster mother" is used.
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)
The fatality report lists "Special Needs: Child had complex medical needs" for both children and states both died from "complications of a medical condition." While "complex medical needs" does not specifically name a physical disability (such as a feeding tube), it indicates significant special medical needs that may encompass physical disability, though the exact nature is not specified.
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 lists two prior CPS reports: "On April 4, 2022, the agency screened-out a CPS Report" and "On June 8, 2015, the agency screened-out a CPS Report." Both predate the January 2023 deaths.
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 describes several notable details: (1) Two siblings died within 11 days of each other—the 16-year-old on January 20, 2023 and the 13-year-old on January 31, 2023—both from complications of a medical condition, with neglect substantiated for both. (2) An unrelated 3-year-old child was living in the home under what appears to be a foster care arrangement ("an existing child protection order") and was subsequently moved to another foster home after the deaths. (3) Despite substantiated neglect of both deceased children, the four surviving siblings remained with the mother and father, with Petitions for Protection or Services filed. (4) Two prior CPS reports (2015 and 2022) were screened out before the deaths occurred. The combination of two sibling deaths, a foster child in the same home, and prior screened-out CPS reports raises systemic concerns about oversight and the adequacy of prior screenings.
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