On the evening of November 28, 2022, in Buckhannon, West Virginia, Ciera Gillespie left her three children — including Joseph Tyler Warner (age 2) and Hunter Haze Warner (age 1) — in the care of her boyfriend, Thomas Cunningham, while she went to the store. Gillespie reportedly knew Cunningham was under the influence of a controlled substance (Percocet). When Gillespie returned home, Cunningham called to say something was wrong with the 2-year-old, who was found limp with blood coming from his mouth and nose. As the 2-year-old was being loaded into an ambulance, Cunningham ran out carrying the 1-year-old and said something was wrong with that child as well. Both children were taken to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. The 2-year-old died within days, and the 1-year-old succumbed to his injuries approximately two weeks later. Doctors determined both deaths were consistent with shaken baby syndrome, describing severe retinal injuries and violent trauma. Cunningham was charged with child abuse causing death, and Gillespie was charged with child neglect resulting in death.
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)?
Gillespie left her three children in the care of Cunningham while she went to the store, knowing he was under the influence of a controlled substance. Document 3 (Law & Crime) states: 'She reportedly told investigators that when she left the children in Cunningham's care, she believed that he was under the influence of a controlled substance.' She was charged with child neglect for this decision, constituting inappropriate supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The children were allegedly shaken by Thomas Cunningham. Document 1 (People) states the cause of death was 'a traumatic injury consistent with shaken baby.' Document 3 (Law & Crime) states the 1-year-old sustained 'significant injuries consistent with violent trauma likely caused by shaken baby syndrome.' Shaking constitutes inflicted injury.
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?
Shaken baby syndrome is explicitly and repeatedly mentioned across all documents. Document 1 (People) states the cause of death was 'a traumatic injury consistent with shaken baby.' Document 3 (Law & Crime) states doctors 'believed that his cause of death was shaken baby syndrome' and that 'retinal hemorrhaging is a typical indication of shaken baby syndrome.' Document 4 (WDTV) describes the case as 'shaken baby syndrome.'
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?
Ciera Gillespie is the biological mother of the children and was charged with child neglect resulting in death. Document 1 (People) identifies her as the mother and states she was 'charged with child neglect creating risk of serious injury or death, child neglect resulting in death and gross neglect of a child creating risk of injury or death.' She knowingly left her children with someone she believed was under the influence of a controlled substance.
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)?
Thomas Cunningham is identified as the mother's boyfriend in Document 1 (People): 'Two toddlers are dead after authorities allege their mother's boyfriend shook them to death.' He was charged with 'child abuse causing death and child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury.' The children's surname is Warner (from grandmother Stephanie Warner per Document 4), not Cunningham. Document 4 (WDTV) references a GoFundMe 'to help the boys' father and sister,' indicating the biological father is a separate individual from Cunningham.
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?
Both Thomas Cunningham and Ciera Gillespie were arrested and charged. Document 3 (Law & Crime) states: 'Thomas W. Cunningham and Ciera N. Gillespie were arrested and charged with multiple felonies in connection with the deaths of their 1-year-old and 2-year-old sons.' Cunningham was charged with child abuse causing death, and Gillespie was charged with child neglect resulting in death, among other charges.
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?
Cunningham, the caregiver at the time of the incident, used Percocet while watching the children. Document 1 (People) states: 'Cunningham used a Percocet to get high while he was left in the care and custody of the two infant children.' Document 3 (Law & Crime) confirms: 'Cunningham allegedly confirmed to police later that day that he had used Percocet to get high before watching the children.' Additionally, Gillespie told investigators she believed Cunningham was 'under the influence of a controlled substance' when she left.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the text. First, this case involves two siblings who both died from injuries inflicted in the same incident — Joseph Tyler Warner (age 2) and Hunter Haze Warner (age 1) — both allegedly shaken by the same perpetrator on the same evening. Second, a 6-year-old sibling was also in the home; Document 1 (People) notes 'It was unclear if Gillespie's 6-year-old daughter, who was also home at the time, was harmed in the incident.' Third, Document 3 (Law & Crime) states 'authorities are expecting additional charges to be filed against both parents in light of the 1-year-old boy's death.' Fourth, Document 4 (WDTV) notes Hunter was an organ donor and that Poling - St. Clair Funeral Home covered the cost of the boys' funerals. Fifth, a treating doctor described the 2-year-old's retinal injuries as 'the worst he had seen in 20 years.' Sixth, Document 3 states Cunningham was held without bond while Gillespie was held on $200,000 cash-only bond.
These fields were populated by an AI model and may contain inaccuracies. Review the links and PDFs provided for verification before citing. Contact [email protected] to report any inaccuracies where corrections are needed.