On December 30, 2022, 3-month-old L.S. was fatally stabbed multiple times in the chest with a butcher knife by her mother, Krista Anne Brunecz, at their apartment in Weston, Lewis County, West Virginia. A neighbor discovered the scene and called 911, reporting blood throughout the apartment. Deputies found Brunecz kneeling in front of a couch holding the lifeless infant, with a bloody butcher knife nearby. The baby was pronounced dead at Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital at approximately 8:15 a.m.; an autopsy revealed the knife had pierced the infant's heart and lungs. Brunecz also had self-inflicted stab wounds and later admitted to a nurse that she had intentionally stabbed her baby and then herself, confirming she had been trying to kill them both. Brunecz's boyfriend told media she had been suffering from postpartum psychosis and was unable to get help before the incident. Brunecz was subsequently indicted on charges of murder and death of a child by a parent or guardian by child abuse.
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)
All three documents confirm the child was stabbed. The fatality report states "Child was stabbed" and the cause was "Physical Injury/homicide." The Law and Crime article describes the mother "stabbing the infant in the chest multiple times with a butcher's knife." The WBOY article states the baby died due to "several stab wounds to the chest."
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?
The Law and Crime article reports that a nurse asked Brunecz "if she had been purposefully trying to kill herself and her baby, to which Brunecz allegedly responded, 'Yes.'" Brunecz stabbed the baby and then stabbed herself. The baby died and Brunecz survived, making this an attempted murder-suicide. The WBOY article corroborates: "Brunecz's wounds were believed to be self-inflicted."
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?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
All sources identify the perpetrator as the child's biological mother. The fatality report classifies the maltreatment as "Abuse: Physical injury." The Law and Crime article states "A 32-year-old mother in West Virginia has been formally charged with killing her 3-month-old baby girl" and Brunecz was indicted on "death of a child by a parent or guardian by child abuse." The WBOY article confirms "A Lewis County woman has been charged in connection with the death of her three-month-old infant."
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)
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?
The Law and Crime article states "A Lewis County grand jury returned a true bill indicting Krista Anne Brunecz on one count each of murder and death of a child by a parent or guardian by child abuse." The WBOY article states "Krista Brunecz, 31, was arrested Friday, in relation to the child's death" and "She is currently being held in the North Central Regional Jail."
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?
The Law and Crime article states: "Brunecz's boyfriend, who spoke to West Virginia MetroNews on the condition his name not be printed, told the radio news network that Brunecz had been suffering from postpartum psychosis and could not get help prior to the tragic incident." Additionally, Brunecz's self-inflicted stab wounds and stated intent to kill herself further indicate mental health issues.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The Law and Crime article reports that "Brunecz's boyfriend... told the radio news network that Brunecz had been suffering from postpartum psychosis and could not get help prior to the tragic incident." This is a notable detail suggesting a potential systemic failure in mental health access for postpartum mothers. The inability to obtain mental health treatment prior to this fatal incident raises questions about the availability of perinatal mental health services in the area and may be relevant to policy considerations around postpartum psychosis screening and intervention.
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