A newborn baby girl was born during an unassisted home birth at approximately 1:00 a.m. on July 7, 2022, in Casper, Wyoming. The mother, Chardae Rose Jagiello, had been injecting fentanyl for pain during contractions and delivery. After the birth, the parents struggled to remove the placenta and tie off the umbilical cord without medical assistance. The father, Robert Swenson, wrapped the baby in a blanket and left the home to buy dental floss at Walgreens to tie the cord, admitting to smoking fentanyl before driving there. Surveillance video showed him casually shopping. Meanwhile, Jagiello went to sleep despite heavy bleeding. When Swenson returned, the baby was no longer crying and was turning purple. He brought the baby to the Wyoming Medical Center emergency room, where she was pronounced dead, and then left. The home was found to contain extensive drug paraphernalia including methamphetamine residue, fentanyl residue, used needles, and several hundred fentanyl pills. Both parents were charged with criminally negligent homicide and child endangerment; Swenson pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in a plea deal.
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 article describes a newborn left without adequate supervision by drug-impaired caregivers. The mother "went to the bedroom to rest despite bleeding heavily" and was later found "sleeping." The father left the newborn at home while he went to Walgreens, having "admitted to smoking fentanyl in the car before leaving." Surveillance showed him "casually walking into the store, not appearing to be in a hurry" and purchasing "dental floss along with an energy drink." When he returned, the baby was "no longer crying and beginning to turn purple." This demonstrates grossly inappropriate supervision of a newborn.
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?
The article describes a home birth with no medical professionals: "there was no nurse with them and he struggled to remove the placenta." The parents struggled to tie off the umbilical cord, with Swenson leaving to buy dental floss at Walgreens. The baby was not taken to a hospital until after she was already "no longer crying and beginning to turn purple." Meanwhile, the father "admitted to smoking fentanyl in the car before leaving for Walgreens" and surveillance showed him "casually walking into the store, not appearing to be in a hurry." This pattern of failing to seek timely and appropriate medical care for the newborn implies 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)?
The news article states: "Swenson told officers Jagiello had been injecting fentanyl for pain while she was contracting, and even giving birth." This constitutes direct prenatal substance exposure, as the mother was actively administering fentanyl intravenously during labor and delivery, which would cross the placenta to the baby.
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?
The article refers to Robert Swenson as "the father" of the baby. "Jagiello gave the baby to the father, Robert Swenson." Swenson was charged with and pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide. He left the newborn to go to Walgreens while smoking fentanyl, and returned to find the baby turning purple.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Chardae Rose Jagiello is the biological mother who gave birth to the baby. She was charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide and Child Endangerment. The article states she was "injecting fentanyl for pain while she was contracting, and even giving birth," and then went to sleep despite the newborn's need for care.
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?
Both parents were charged. The article's headline states "Casper Woman Arrested for Negligent Homicide," and Jagiello was charged with "Child Endangerment" and "Criminally Negligent Homicide." Additionally, "Swenson was charged with criminally negligent homicide, possession of meth, and child endangerment." The article also notes that on "July 8th, Robert Swenson was located and 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?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Extensive substance use by both parents/caregivers is described. The article states: "Swenson told officers Jagiello had been injecting fentanyl for pain while she was contracting, and even giving birth." Swenson "admitted to smoking fentanyl in the car before leaving for Walgreens." An individual told agents "he had been using controlled substances with both Jagiello and Swenson that morning." Officers found "spoons with suspected methamphetamine residue," "numerous spoons with suspected fentanyl residue and meth residue along with both clean and used needles," and "several hundred fentanyl pills" in a lock box.
Notable Details
Several notable details not covered by other questions: (1) There was a significant delay of nearly two years between the incident (July 2022) and the mother's court appearance, with the judge noting "Jagiello has been out of trouble since the event occurred." (2) Robert Swenson received a plea deal in which he "pleaded guilty to the first charge [criminally negligent homicide] in exchange for the other two being dropped" (meth possession and child endangerment). (3) Surveillance video from Walgreens showed Swenson "casually walking into the store, not appearing to be in a hurry, and in clean clothes with no appearance of blood on them," purchasing an energy drink alongside the dental floss, while a newborn baby was left at home without adequate care. (4) Officers found "several hundred fentanyl pills" in a lock box in the closet, suggesting significant drug trafficking or stockpiling at the residence where the birth occurred.
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