On October 16, 2023, a 3-year-old girl became unresponsive at her grandfather Todd Baylous's home on Hickory Ridge Road in Cabell County, West Virginia, while in the care of her mother, Courtney Daniel Toney-Baylous (age 33), and Jessica Rose Lindsey (age 35), who was the girlfriend of the child's grandfather. The two women were on the living room couch when the child became unresponsive. The child was taken to Cabell Huntington Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death was fentanyl/norfentanyl/4-ANPP intoxication. Both women were charged with child neglect resulting in death but evaded authorities for approximately six months before being apprehended in April 2024.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Document 1 (WSAZ) states "A post-mortem examination listed her cause of death as fentanyl/norfentanyl/4-ANPP intoxication." Document 2 (WCHS) confirms a "3-year-old overdosed on fentanyl while in their care" and "the West Virginia Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed the death was due to a fentanyl 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)?
Document 1 (WSAZ) states the mother and Jessica Lindsey-Shelton "were on the living room couch when the child became unresponsive," and the child died from fentanyl intoxication. The two women were supposed to be caring for the 3-year-old yet the child was fatally exposed to fentanyl, implying a failure of appropriate supervision that allowed the child access to a lethal substance. Both were charged with child neglect resulting in death.
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?
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?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Document 1 (WSAZ) states: "One of the women was the mother of the child. Courtney Daniel Toney-Baylous is charged with child neglect resulting in death after her 3-year-old daughter died in October of 2023." Document 2 (WCHS) confirms the child was "the daughter of Toney-Baylous" and that she was present when the child became unresponsive.
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)?
Document 2 (WCHS) states: "the child, who was the grandchild of Lindsey's boyfriend and the daughter of Toney-Baylous." Jessica Rose Lindsey is the girlfriend of the child's grandfather (Todd Baylous). She was present when the child became unresponsive and was charged with child neglect resulting in death. As the girlfriend/paramour of the grandfather, she qualifies as a female paramour involved in the death.
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?
Document 1 (WSAZ) states: "Courtney Daniel Toney-Baylous is charged with child neglect resulting in death" and "Jessica Lindsey-Shelton has also been charged with child neglect resulting in death." Document 2 (WCHS) confirms: "Both of the women are charged with child neglect resulting in death" and both were taken into custody.
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?
Document 2 (WCHS) states: "Toney-Baylous was also wanted on warrants of simple assault, petit larceny and conspiracy." These warrants are listed separately from the child neglect resulting in death charge and the escape charge, indicating prior criminal matters unrelated to this child's death.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
While neither article explicitly states the caregivers were using fentanyl, the child died of fentanyl intoxication while in the care of the two women. Document 1 (WSAZ) states they "were on the living room couch when the child became unresponsive" and the cause of death was "fentanyl/norfentanyl/4-ANPP intoxication." The presence of fentanyl in a home environment accessible to a 3-year-old, combined with the child neglect charges, strongly implies the substance was present due to the caregivers' drug use or possession.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the documents. Both charged women were apparently fugitives for approximately six months after the child's death in October 2023 before being apprehended in April 2024. Document 2 (WCHS) states: "Both of the women had been on the run until earlier this month." Additionally, Toney-Baylous dramatically escaped police custody after her arrest: Document 1 (WSAZ) reports she "in handcuffs, climbed through the cruiser, unlocked it, and left through the driver's door." Document 2 (WCHS) further notes that "An escape from custody charge was dismissed," and that Toney-Baylous was initially "released on a personal recognizance bond" for the child neglect resulting in death charge per Document 1 (WSAZ). These details—the extended period as fugitives, the escape from custody, the dismissed escape charge, and the personal recognizance bond for a charge of child neglect resulting in death—may be relevant to researchers studying the criminal justice response to child fatality cases.
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