Niindonis Jade Goodman
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CANDID ID: MN_24_2482
AGE
2   years
STATE
Minnesota
DATE OF DEATH
5/28/2024
DEATH RECORDS (M.E.R.)
STATE REPORTS (F.R.)
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
Two-year-old Niindonis Jade Goodman was found unresponsive at approximately 5:30 PM on May 28, 2024, inside a living space at the Higher Ground emergency shelter on Glenwood Avenue North in Minneapolis. Officers found the child surrounded by narcotics paraphernalia, administered Narcan and CPR, and she was transported to Hennepin Healthcare where she was pronounced dead. Her mother, Christin L. Vannett, told police she had been sleeping on the ground with the child lying on her chest and that the child's father discovered the girl was unresponsive upon returning. Police found a plate with white powder that tested positive for fentanyl, along with needles and pills. The mother admitted to using fentanyl around 2 AM that day. The toddler's seven-year-old sister told police she witnessed the mother injecting drugs. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner determined the child had 9.7 ng/mL of fentanyl in her system and ruled the cause of death as acute fentanyl toxicity, with the official manner of death listed as undetermined. Vannett was charged with one count of second-degree manslaughter.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

The vital record (Document 1) states the cause of death as "Acute Fentanyl Toxicity" and that "Decedent Was Exposed To Fentanyl Under Unknown Circumstances." The Bring Me The News article (Document 4) reports the Hennepin County Medical Examiner determined "the toddler had 9.7 nanograms per milliliter of fentanyl in her system, as well as 0.42 nanograms per milliliter of norfentanyl" and that "The girl died of acute fentanyl toxicity." The mother was also asked "if the child could've consumed narcotics" and handed officers a plate with fentanyl on it.

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 Bring Me The News article (Document 4) describes that the mother was sleeping with the child while narcotics and paraphernalia were present in the room, including "a plate with a white powder on it" that "field tested positive for fentanyl," as well as "multiple pills and needles." The mother admitted to "using fentanyl around 2 a.m. that morning" and having taken pills before falling asleep. The child was left unsupervised (or supervised only by a sleeping, drug-impaired caregiver) in a room with accessible fentanyl, leading to the child's fatal exposure.

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?

The Bring Me The News article (Document 4) states: "Vannett allegedly told police she was sleeping on the ground with her child lying on her chest." The child sleeping on an adult's chest on the ground is a recognized unsafe sleep practice. Additionally, the environment contained narcotics paraphernalia, making the sleeping environment hazardous.

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?

The Bring Me The News article (Document 4) states that "Prosecutors in Hennepin County charged Christin L. Vannett, of Bemidji, on Wednesday with one count of second-degree manslaughter in connection with the child's death." Vannett is identified as the child's mother. She admitted to using fentanyl that morning, had drug paraphernalia in the living space, and was responsible for the child's care when the child was fatally exposed to fentanyl.

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?

The Bring Me The News article (Document 4) states: "Prosecutors in Hennepin County charged Christin L. Vannett, of Bemidji, on Wednesday with one count of second-degree manslaughter in connection with the child's death on May 28."

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

The Bring Me The News article (Document 4) explicitly states: "her two-year-old daughter died of a drug overdose at a Minneapolis shelter" and identifies the location as "a living space at the Higher Ground emergency shelter on Glenwood Avenue North."

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?

The Bring Me The News article (Document 4) reports that the mother "admit to using fentanyl around 2 a.m. that morning" and "said she'd taken pills for a twisted ankle before falling asleep that afternoon." The toddler's older sister also described witnessing the mother using drugs: "The girl allegedly told police she saw Vannett 'put a needle in her arm.'" Police also found "signs of drug use inside the apartment, including capped needles, tie-off bands, saline solution and cotton balls."

Notable Details

Several notable details not addressed by preceding questions: (1) The toddler's seven-year-old sister was present during the incident and provided key witness statements to police, including alleging she saw the mother "put a needle in her arm" and that her "little sister took a nap on Vannett that day and did not wake up" (Document 4). This child witness account from a sibling is significant for understanding the home environment. (2) There is a discrepancy between the official manner of death and the criminal charge: the vital record (Document 1) states the manner of death "Could not be determined," yet the mother was nonetheless charged with second-degree manslaughter (Document 4). (3) The mother reportedly handed officers a plate of fentanyl when asked if the child could have consumed narcotics, stating "it could possibly be fentanyl" (Document 4), which is a notable and unusual circumstance in the immediate aftermath of the child's death.