On October 11, 2023, 12-year-old Jacarie Robinson was found deceased and decomposed in his Milwaukee home, where he lived with his father Romuan Moye and two teenage siblings. The Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, finding the boy weighed only 54 pounds and was severely malnourished. Due to the condition of his body, the child may have been dead since Labor Day, approximately five weeks before discovery. A criminal complaint stated that Moye had been keeping his son away from the rest of his family for several months. Moye was charged with 1st-Degree Reckless Homicide, multiple counts of Chronic Neglect of a Child, and Failure to Report Death of a Child; an arrest warrant was issued, but Moye remained on the run. The CPS agency substantiated maltreatment of neglect and physical abuse by the father, and the child's siblings were placed with their mother.
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)
The fatality report states the agency "found a preponderance of the evidence to substantiate maltreatment of neglect and physical abuse to the child by the father." Physical abuse was substantiated as a separate finding alongside neglect, which suggests some form of inflicted injury. However, no specific mechanism of physical abuse (e.g., slapping, punching, kicking) is described, and the criminal charges are all neglect-related. It is possible the physical abuse finding relates to the physical harm caused by starvation rather than direct inflicted injury.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Multiple sources explicitly reference malnutrition. The TMJ4 article states "Robinson was found malnourished and decomposed Tuesday night in his own home." The WISN article states "the boy weighed just 54 pounds, severely malnourished."
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)?
The WISN article states "Moye had been keeping his son away from the rest of his family for several months," indicating deliberate isolation/captivity. Combined with severe malnourishment (54 pounds at age 12) and the fact that the body was decomposed and may have been dead since Labor Day, this pattern indicates prolonged, deliberate deprivation of food and isolation extending over months, going beyond typical neglect. The criminal charges include multiple counts of "Chronic Neglect of a Child" with consequences including death and bodily harm, and the father was charged with "Failure to Report Death of Child," further suggesting sustained, intentional cruelty.
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 the father was criminally charged with 1st-Degree Reckless Homicide and multiple counts of chronic neglect. The child resided with his father at the time of the incident. The WISN article identifies the father as Romuan Moye and states he "now faces charges of first-degree reckless homicide, several counts of chronic neglect of a child and failure to report the death of a child." The fatality report also substantiated maltreatment of neglect and physical abuse "by the father."
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?
The TMJ4 article notes "That brings us to early September when Robinson should have been starting school within the Milwaukee Public School District (MPS). We reached out to MPS, but a spokesperson told us they could not legally confirm if Robinson was a student or if he attended class." The WISN article states the father "had been keeping his son away from the rest of his family for several months." The Medical Examiner's office said "due to the condition of his body, he may have been missing since Labor Day." This combination of evidence—deliberate isolation by the father, possible death before the school year started, and MPS's inability to confirm enrollment—suggests the child was likely not attending school, but there is no explicit confirmation that he was homeschooled or formally 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)?
The fatality report contains an extensive history of prior CPS reports involving the child's siblings and parents dating back to 2001. Key examples include: "On August 29, 2020, the agency screened-in a CPS Report alleging neglect to one of the child's now adult siblings by the father," "On April 27, 2018, the agency screened-in a CPS Report alleging physical abuse to one of the child's now adult siblings by the father," and multiple reports alleging neglect by the mother to the child's siblings and half-siblings going back to 2001. On October 17, 2006, Petitions for Protection or Services were filed for several of the child's 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?
The fatality report states "the child's father was criminally charged with 1st-Degree Reckless Homicide, Chronic Neglect of a Child (Consequence is Death), Chronic Neglect of a Child (Consequence is Bodily Harm), Chronic Neglect of a Child (Specified Harm Did Not Occur), and Failure to Report Death of Child." The WISN article confirms "The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office issued an arrest warrant for Moye in October."
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
Several notable details not fully addressed by other questions: (1) The father Romuan Moye fled and was still on the run at the time of reporting. The WISN article states "The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office issued an arrest warrant for Moye in October. He is still on the run." (2) There was initial mixed messaging between agencies: the TMJ4 article reports "Milwaukee Police told TMJ4 Thursday that this is not a homicide investigation" while "according to the medical examiner's office...Robinson's death is being investigated as a homicide." (3) The child's body was decomposed, with the ME's office stating "due to the condition of his body, he may have been missing since Labor Day," suggesting the child had been dead for approximately five weeks before discovery on October 11. (4) The father was charged with Failure to Report Death of Child, indicating a deliberate effort to conceal the death. (5) Despite an extensive CPS history spanning over 20 years involving both parents and multiple siblings, including substantiated neglect findings and Petitions for Protection or Services, this child's severe maltreatment went undetected.
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