Three-month-old baby Everly was found in cardiac arrest on January 5, 2024, at a home on Ocheltree Road in Ripley, Jackson County, West Virginia. John Michael Tames, 24, the mother's boyfriend, had been home alone with the infant and confessed to swinging the child back and forth while frustrated and slamming her into the floor, causing several skeletal and cranial fractures, a brain bleed, and bilateral retinal hemorrhaging. Emergency workers temporarily resuscitated the baby, who was transported to Jackson General Hospital and then to Ruby Memorial Hospital. After approximately one month on life support, baby Everly died on February 4, 2024, from complications of non-accidental head trauma. Tames was charged with death of a child by child abuse and is held on $500,000 bond. Notably, deputies had responded to the same home approximately two weeks prior to the abuse for an overdose incident, during which a CPS referral was requested.
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)
Document 1 states: "baby Everly was slammed into the floor during the assault." Document 2 elaborates that Tames "swung the child back and forth while frustrated and later varied his statement by saying the child's head did hit the floor, possibly hard enough to fracture her skull." The child suffered "several skeletal and cranial fractures, a brain bleed, and bilateral retinal hemorrhaging."
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?
Document 2 states the death was from "non-accidental head trauma inflicted by John Tames" and describes "bilateral retinal hemorrhaging," which is a hallmark finding in abusive head trauma. Document 2 also states Tames "swung the child back and forth while frustrated," describing a shaking mechanism. The combination of bilateral retinal hemorrhages, cranial fractures, brain bleed, and the described shaking mechanism is consistent with shaken baby/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?
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)?
Document 2 states "Tames is not the father of the child" and "Tames was home alone at his girlfriend's house with the baby." This indicates Tames was the mother's boyfriend (male paramour) and he is the one who caused the fatal injuries. The charge is "death of a child by a parent, guardian, or custodian 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)?
Document 1 reports that deputies were at the home "a few weeks prior for a reported overdose unrelated to Everly's death." During that visit, "a different small child was found inside the home" and "a deputy on scene requested 'that a CPS worker is assigned to this case.'" This CPS referral on Dec. 21 predates the Jan. 5 incident and represents a prior child protection report involving the same household.
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 2 states "John Michael Tames, 24, of Ripley, West Virginia, now faces death of a child by a parent, guardian, or custodian by child abuse." Document 1 confirms he was arrested in January and now faces upgraded charges. He is held on $500,000 bond.
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?
Document 1 reports that "deputies were there a few weeks prior for a reported overdose unrelated to Everly's death" at the same home where baby Everly resided. While the text does not specify who overdosed, the overdose occurred in the home where the child's caregivers lived, implying substance use by a parent or caregiver in the household.
Notable Details
Document 1 reveals a potential systemic failure: deputies were called to the same home on Dec. 21 for an overdose, found a different small child there, and a deputy requested CPS assignment. Baby Everly was then found critically injured at the home on Jan. 5 — about two weeks later. WSAZ specifically asked the West Virginia Department of Human Services whether CPS responded within the state-mandated 14-day or 72-hour window following the Dec. 21 referral, and whether an internal investigation was underway. The DoHS responded only with a generic policy statement and did not answer the specific questions, citing confidentiality under WV Code §49-5-101. This raises significant questions about whether timely CPS intervention could have prevented the death.
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.