unnamed girl
SHARE LINK
CANDID ID: IL_23_1992
AGE
Infant
STATE
Illinois
DATE OF DEATH
4/1/2023
MEDIA
Not Available
DEATH RECORDS (M.E.R.)
Not Available
STATE REPORTS (F.R.)
SUMMARY OF DEATH
A seven-month-old girl, born premature at 28 weeks gestation with prenatal cocaine exposure and a brain bleed requiring NICU care and a g-tube, presented at a hospital with labored breathing and had to be resuscitated before being airlifted to a children's hospital where she was pronounced dead. Hospital staff observed abrasions all over her body, her g-tube had not been cleaned properly, and she was malnourished. The mother's account was inconsistent, and the family provided multiple addresses. Prior to the child's death, DCFS had indicated the mother for substance misuse by neglect and recommended intact family services, but the mother stopped complying with drug tests and visits, and the family relocated without informing DCFS. Despite diligent searches, the intact worker was unable to locate the family before the infant died. The cause of death and full DCFS investigation remain pending.
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)

The fatality report notes: "Hospital staff noted she had abrasions all over her body." While the source of these abrasions is not specified and the investigation remains pending, the presence of abrasions "all over her body" on a 7-month-old infant could indicate inflicted injury. However, the text does not explicitly identify them as inflicted.

Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?

The fatality report explicitly states: "she was malnourished" when describing the hospital staff's observations at the time of the child's presentation.

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

The fatality report states: "her g-tube had not been cleaned properly, and she was malnourished." The child had a g-tube requiring specialized medical care, and the improper maintenance of it along with malnourishment constitutes medical neglect. Additionally, the family fled from intact family services, preventing recommended medical and developmental assessments (including a 0-3 assessment for the infant) from being completed.

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 fatality report states: "her mother disclosed that she used cocaine five days earlier, and the infant tested positive for cocaine at birth." This is a clear case of prenatal substance exposure.

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 biological father was part of the family unit caring for the infant. The report indicates the family as a whole "moved out of the home and did not inform the CPI or intact worker of their new address," and the child presented with signs of severe neglect including malnourishment, abrasions, and improperly cleaned g-tube. However, the DCFS investigation specifically indicated the mother (not the father), and the father tested negative for drugs. His direct involvement in the child's death is unclear, and the investigation remains pending.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

The biological mother is strongly implicated in the child's death through neglect. The report states: "the mother's story was inconsistent," the mother was previously indicated for "substance misuse by neglect" and "substantial risk of physical injury/environment injurious to health and welfare by neglect," and the mother "stopped complying with drug tests and visits with the intact worker." The child presented malnourished with abrasions and an improperly cleaned g-tube while in the mother's 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)

The fatality report explicitly references the child's g-tube (a feeding tube) multiple times: "the parents had completed training for the infant's g-tube" and "her g-tube had not been cleaned properly." The child was also born premature at 28 weeks gestation and had a brain bleed, requiring extended NICU stay.

Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?

The fatality report explicitly states: "the infant was born premature, at 28 weeks gestation."

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

The report explicitly describes prior child protection reports. The reason for review states: "one unfounded and one indicated child protection investigation within one year of child's death." Specifically, "DCFS indicated the mother in the September 2022 investigation for substance misuse by neglect (#65) and substantial risk of physical injury/environment injurious to health and welfare by neglect (#60)." A subsequent investigation was "unfounded for substantial risk of physical injury/environment injurious to health and welfare by neglect (#60)."

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?

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 fatality report states that the intact worker recommended "mental health services for the mother" as part of the service plan. While no specific mental health diagnosis is mentioned, the recommendation of mental health services references the parent's mental health as a concern.

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The report extensively documents the mother's substance use: "her mother disclosed that she used cocaine five days earlier," "The mother completed a drug screening and tested positive for cocaine," and the mother was indicated for "substance misuse by neglect." The intact worker also recommended "substance use assessment and treatment" for the mother.

Notable Details

The fatality report describes a significant systemic failure: the family absconded from DCFS oversight while an intact family services case was open. The report states: "the mother stopped complying with drug tests and visits with the intact worker. The family moved out of the home and did not inform the CPI or intact worker of their new address." Despite this, "the intact worker performed diligent searches for the family but never located the family prior to the infant's death." The family also "provided multiple addresses, including an address in a neighboring state," and a neighboring state reported that the "infant's 11-year-old sister was registered in school but had not attended that year." Despite these indicators of the family's location and the child's vulnerability (premature birth, g-tube, prenatal cocaine exposure, brain bleed), the system was unable to locate and protect the child before her death. This case highlights a critical gap in cross-state coordination and the challenge of maintaining contact with families who actively evade child welfare services.