On November 28, 2022, in Buckhannon, West Virginia, Ciera Gillespie left her three children (ages 1, 2, and 6) with her boyfriend Thomas Cunningham while she went to Walmart, despite knowing he was under the influence of a controlled substance. While in Cunningham's sole care, both boys — Joseph "Tyler" Warner (age 2) and Hunter Haze Warner (age 1) — suffered violent blunt-force traumatic brain injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome. Upon Gillespie's return, the 2-year-old was limp with blood coming from his mouth and nose; as the ambulance departed with the 2-year-old, Cunningham ran out with the 1-year-old indicating something was wrong with him as well. The 2-year-old was pronounced dead at Ruby Memorial Hospital on November 30, and the 1-year-old died approximately 12 days later. The medical examiner ruled both deaths non-accidental homicides. Cunningham pleaded guilty to two counts of death of a child by child abuse and faces 30 years to life in prison. Gillespie was indicted on two counts of 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)?
The mother, Ciera Gillespie, left her three children in the care of Thomas Cunningham while knowing he was under the influence of a controlled substance. The mybuckhannon.com arrest article states: "Gillespie went to Walmart and left her three children — ages 1, 2 and 6 — in the care of Cunningham, her boyfriend, while allegedly knowing he was 'under the influence of a controlled substance.'" The wboy.com article states she "believed Cunningham was under the influence of a controlled substance by the way he was acting when she left the children in his care and custody." She was charged with child neglect for this inappropriate supervisory arrangement.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The mybuckhannon.com article on the guilty plea states: "the medical examiner's autopsy report from September 2023 indicated the cause of death for both children was non-accidental homicide as a result of suffering internal and external contusions and hemorrhaging in the brain." Additionally, Cunningham acknowledged in court that the children "died at your hands." The injuries described throughout all documents — blunt-force traumatic brain injuries, contusions, retinal hemorrhages — are inflicted injuries consistent with violent shaking.
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 referenced across all documents. The mybuckhannon.com arrest article states: "a doctor who said the manner of death was 'traumatic injury consistent [with] shaken baby [syndrome], and that the retinal injuries were the worse he had seen in 10 years.'" The wboy.com article similarly reports the doctor stated the child's cause of death was "a traumatic injury consistent with 'shaken baby.'" The mybuckhannon.com plea article states the children "died from blunt-force traumatic brain injuries consistent with '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 both children. The mybuckhannon.com arrest article identifies her as "Ciera N. Gillespie, 25, of Buckhannon, the mother of both children," who "has been charged with child neglect resulting in the death of a child and child neglect resulting in serious bodily injury." The mybuckhannon.com plea article states she "was indicted on two felony counts of child neglect resulting in death." She was involved by knowingly leaving the children with Cunningham while he 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 was the mother's boyfriend and is identified as the person who directly caused the children's deaths. The mybuckhannon.com plea article states he was "An Upshur County man who admitted that he's responsible for the deaths of his girlfriend's two children." The mybuckhannon.com arrest article identifies the children as being "left in Cunningham's care" while the mother was at Walmart. He was charged with and pleaded guilty to two counts of death of a child by child abuse.
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 Cunningham and Gillespie were arrested and charged. The mybuckhannon.com arrest article states: "Cunningham was arrested by the Upshur County Sheriff's Office and Gillespie was arrested by the Sutton detachment of the West Virginia State Police." Cunningham was charged with child abuse resulting in death, and Gillespie was charged with child neglect resulting in death. The mybuckhannon.com plea article reports Cunningham subsequently pleaded guilty to two felony counts of death of a child by child abuse.
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?
Multiple documents explicitly reference Cunningham's substance use. The mybuckhannon.com arrest article states: "Cunningham told WVSP officers 'that he had used Percocet to get high' while the three children were in his care." The mybuckhannon.com plea article adds: "although Cunningham had told the police he had taken a Percocet on the night of the incident, laboratory results indicated that fentanyl, marijuana and Benadryl were in his system." Furthermore, the mother Gillespie admitted she knew Cunningham was under the influence of a controlled substance when she left the children with him.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the documents. First, the initial investigation at the scene was classified as "an infant's drug overdose" per the criminal complaint cited by wboy.com, before the medical investigation determined the actual cause was shaken baby syndrome. Second, the mybuckhannon.com plea article reveals that while Cunningham told police he had taken Percocet, "laboratory results indicated that fentanyl, marijuana and Benadryl were in his system" — a significant discrepancy suggesting counterfeit pills or dishonesty. Third, Cunningham pleaded guilty under a plea agreement where the only concession was the prosecutor not recommending 0-to-50-year extended supervision upon release; he still faces 30 years to life in prison. The prosecuting attorney noted he had "never [had] two at one time" in shaken baby cases. Fourth, a 6-year-old sibling was also present in the home at the time of the incident, and as the People article notes, "It was unclear if Gillespie's 6-year-old daughter, who was also home at the time, was harmed in the incident."
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