Mercedes Mayfield
6 years old
Died February 27, 2014
Beltrami County
Description of death
The girl froze to death on the steps of her apartment complex. Her cousin, Rachel Downer, was charged in connection with the death.
Child protection history
According to a CHIPS petition, Downer was offered family assessment, but declined, from October 2013 to January 2014 following allegations that her child was in an apartment with no adult supervision with a 6-year old and 3-year old. From August to October 2012 she was offered services for her and her son, but the case was closed after she did not cooperate with a social worker. In August 2012, she was offered voluntary outreach services, but declined.
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
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Emma Dennis
1 month old
October 8, 2013 - November 25, 2013
Benton County
Description of death
She fell off a bed, face down into a blanket where she suffocated and died. The mother was convicted of manslaughter after she admitted to using drugs before Emma’s death.
Child protection history
The county received two reports, including one from the mother while she was pregnant. She asked for help for her drug addiction. After the child was born, a doctor's office called the county to report that the girl had a possible whooping cough diagnosis, but could not reach the girl's mother.
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Natasha Mohr
5 months old
July 2, 2008 - December 10, 2008
Hennepin County
Description of death
She was found in "a potentially compromised sleeping environment" and died of sudden infant death syndrome.
Child protection history
The family had a history with Hennepin County child protection dating to 2000, when one of their children was found lying in a room with handguns, ammunition, crack and marijuana. In July 2008 the county removed Natasha because her mother tested positive for opiates when the girl was born. In August 2008, the court ordered Natasha to be placed with her father, Zachary Mohr.
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
Christiana Sandstrom
5 months old
January 1, 2013 - June 11, 2013
Clay County
Description of death
The girl died of heat exposure after being left in a minivan for several hours.
Child protection history
The family was reported five times for maltreatment prior to the child's death. Three of the calls were screened out; two screened in and referred for family assessment.
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Key'ontay Miller-Peterson
4 years old
December 14, 2008 - June 11, 2013
Dakota County
Description of death
The boy was allegedly beaten by his mother's boyfriend, William Warr, who has been charged with first degree murder. His mother has been charged with manslaughter.
Child protection history
In 2010 Washington County became involved with the family following a domestic dispute between the boy's mother and another man. In February 2012, Hennepin County referred a case to family assesment following a report that Warr abused Key'ontay. In March, Warr is accused of punching the boy and giving him a bloody nose. That month, maltreatment was determined after Warr strangled the mother in front of the children. The mother filed an Order For Protection against Warr on May 29 at the request of Hennepin County. In December 2012, Hennepin County received a report that Warr was physically abusing Key'ontay, causing five stitches to his right eye. The report was assigned to family assessment. In a June 2013 report the county was told that the boy was being abused by Warr, and despite the active restraining order the mother continued to let Warr stay at the house. A family assessment worker visited the home on June 7, 2013, three days before the child died.
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Amonte King
6 years old
June 21, 2006 - March 3, 2013
Martin county
Description of death
The boy was in the car with his mother, who was drunk and got into an accident. Unrestrained by a seatbelt, the 6-year old was ejected from the vehicle and found 30 yards away.
Child protection history
Martin County Human Services received a report of a lack of supervision in September 2011. The report was screened in for family assessment.
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
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Eric Dean
4 years old
December 17, 2008 -
February 28, 2013
Pope County
Description of death
Pope County
Description of death
Eric died after his father's fiance, Amanda Peltier, threw him across a room, causing internal injuries.
Child protection history
The child was reported 15 times for abuse and neglect by day care providers and teachers. Reports included pictures sent to child protection of bruises and bite marks on his head.
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Dontrell Stademeyer
8 months old
May 25, 2012 - February 15, 2013
Ramsey County
Description of death
Dontrell died of apparent sudden infant death syndrome after he was found face down on a mattress while sleeping with other children.
Child protection history
The boy's mother, Freda Purdue, was twice found to be drinking heavily while caring for her children and falling asleep on the boy while under the influence of alcohol. In July 2012 child protection gave Purdue a crib and closed the case. On Oct. 23, 2012, the boy was placed on a 72-hour hold by White Bear Lake police after the boy fell off the mother's bed, hurting his lip. The other children were placed in foster care. She resumed care of her children in December after completing a treatment program. She was given family assessment case management which remained open when Dontrell died.
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Rowan Stephens
1 year old
January 28, 2011 - October 22, 2012
Stearns County
Description of death
Rowan died of blunt force head trauma, with his death ruled a homicide.
Child protection history
Stearns County filed a CHIPS petition for Rowan in January 2012 alleging he was abused by his mother. A doctor reviewed his medical records and could find no medical reason why he was bruising. In 2005, his mother was referred for services because she was 16 years old and had recently lost her baby due to possible sudden infant death syndrome.
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
Siyana Umar
2 years old
March 26, 2010 - June 17, 2012
Hennepin County
Description of death
Siyana drowned in a bathtub while her mother, Deqa Yusuf, was drunk.
Child protection history
Family assessment was offered following a September 2011 investigation. The children were removed from the custody of their mother, Deqa Yusuf, in January 2012 due to her drinking while caring for children. Both parents were found responsible for maltreatment. They were returned on May 10, 2012. On May 31, 2012, the girl was found drowned.
Mortality review file
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Cottrell Short
1 year old
June 22, 2010 - February 11, 2012
Hennepin County
Description of death
Cottrell was beaten to death and suffered from a blood infection after a burn on his hand went untreated. His mother, Shacara Foster, and her boyfriend, Kentae Todd, were convicted for the death.
Child protection history
There are multiple child protection reports pertaining to adults living at the home where Cottrell died. The mother had previously abandoned her child, and was found responsible for neglect after another child died of sudden infant death syndrome. In February 2008 drugs were found in the home following a raid and the children were put into emergency protective custody. In 2008, Kasyiah Todd (the mother of man convicted of killing Cottrell) was offered family assessment after a report that her children were being physically abused. In November 2010 the county again offered Todd's family family assessment after a report that their home was unsafe and unsanitary. Kentae Todd had been found responsible for breaking his daughter's ribs in 2010. Four days before Cottrell Short was killed, a neglect report was made to the county pertaining to Cottrell. The county screened out the report, and a few days later offered voluntary services to the parent. That day, Cottrell died.
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Ariel Reyes
1 year old
October 15, 2010 - September 1, 2012
Norman County
Description of death
The girl was beaten to death by her mother's boyfriend, Raul Perez
Child protection history
An abuse report made and screened in on Aug. 8, a month before Ariel's death. Norman County Social Services said the case was opened due to the mom not supervising the children. The case was screened in for family assessment and a case was open when the girl died.
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Byron Carlson
10 months old
February 8, 2011 - December 8, 2011
St. Louis County
Description of death
Byron died in a car accident after his mother, Cindy Rewertz, knew that the driver was drunk. The driver died. His mother was found responsible for neglect.
Child protection history
According to the CHIPS petition, child protection was involved with the family since 2001. There were multiple reports of drug use by the parents, and prior sex assault claims. According to St. Louis County, a report was made in October 2010 alleging that the boy's mother was neglecting another child. In March 2011 the county received another report that the boy's mother was abusing drugs and alcohol. That case was closed in August 2011. The next month the county received another report that Rewertz's abuse of alcohol and drugs impacted her ability to parent Byron. That case was referred to family assessment and was open when Bryon died in December 2011.
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Jyssika Buchanan (Pederson)
1 week-old
April 28, 2012 - May 2, 2012
St. Louis County
Description of death
The baby was born premature. Her mother, Libra Pederson, was using drugs. The baby tested positive for cocaine.
Child protection history
The county removed her first child from her in 2007 following heavy abuse of drugs and alcohol resulting in child neglect.
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
Devin Drake
3 years old
March 13, 2008 - September 4, 2011
Anoka County
Description of death
Devin was beaten to death by his mother's boyfriend, Anthony Urban. He was convicted of 2nd degree murder. Devin's mother, Elizabeth Moorman, was convicted of child neglect and manslaughter.
Child protection history
There were four reports prior to Devin's death. Three were screened out, one referred for family assessment. A court petition was also filed against Elizabeth Moorman in June 2011 after another child missed 96 days of school.
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Quentin Pauly
2 years old
October 23, 2008 - July 9, 2011
Morrison County
Description of death
Description of death
Quentin's father was drunk when he crashed his car, killing his 2-year old son, who was not properly restrained in his car seat.
Child protection history
According to Morrison County, a neighbor reported seeing the child unattended outside his home in August 2010. Law enforcement arrived and had to wake up the mother. The report was referred for family assessment.
Mortality review recommendations
Nicco Del Caro
2 months old
January 29, 2011 - March 21, 2011
St. Louis County
Description of death
St. Louis County
Description of death
He suffocated after his face was obstructed by a pillow. The county determined that the child's mother neglected the boy.
Child protection history
County had prior involvement regarding child welfare and protection dating back to 2009, according to a CHIPS record. The boy's mother has a history of drug about since July 2009 and admitted using drugs daily in her home while caring for her children. In 2009, Ms. Del Caro operated a day care out of her home and was investigated, resulting in her daycare license being suspended. In 2010 the county received a report that she was pregnant and using drugs.
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
Adrian Medrano
3 weeks old
November 1, 2011 - November 22, 2011
Washington County
Description of death
Adrian's mother, Toni Medrano, was drunk on Nov. 21, 2011, when she fell asleep on the couch with her baby, suffocating him. She had been drinking steadily since the baby was born.
Child protection history
In 2006, Medrano was referred to family assessment following allegations of child neglect. In July 2009, she was again referred to family assessment after continuing concerns about the children being unsupervised. She was again referred to family assessment in January 2010 after five of the children, ages 1 to 9, were home alone. In March 2011, Medrano was reported for educational neglect. That case was closed in July 2011.
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Willie Franklin
4 months old
April 21, 2009 - August 28, 2009
Hennepin County
Description of death
The father, Willie Franklin Sr., placed his crying son facedown on a pillow. He then smoked marijuana and called a sex chat line as the child suffocated.
Child protection history
A CHIPS petition was filed against the boy's mother, Susan Phang, in 2007, after she was accused of neglecting and abandoning her children. According to the petition, Phang was accused of selling crack with Willie Franklin from their home and using the drug in October 2007. Also according to the petition, there was a screened out report that month for child neglect against Phang. In 2005, Olmsted County responded to a report that Phang was assaulted by another man in front of her children. That case was referred to family assessment, but no ongoing services were provided. According to Hennepin County, child protection received reports in October 2007 and November 2007 that were screened out.
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Deanna Anderson
16 years old
June 22, 1993 - April 24, 2010
Mille Lacs County
Description of death
Deanna's caregiver purchased alcohol for the girl, which she drank. The caregiver then had Deanna drive, as the caregiver didn't have a valid license. Deanna pulled into traffic, and was hit by another vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
Child protection history
A child protection report was received in November 2007 due to a report that the girl was in detox as a result of drinking with parents. Report findings "indicated that child reported that she had been drinking and other adults were there but she was not drinking with her parents and her parents did not supply the alcohol." The county was unable to substantiate child maltreatment.
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Isaiah Klingfus
6 years old
July 8, 2003 - March 31, 2010
Mower County
Description of death
Isaiah's death was called a homicide by the medical examiner with multiple reasons listed on the death record for causes, including respiratory arrest, severe sleep disorder, and cerebal palsy with an injury listed as "obstructive sleep apnea, was not wearing cpap at time of death." He died at a residential institution.
Child protection history
In 2007, Mower County filed a CHIPS petition against his parents, saying Isaiah's mother frequently neglected the child.
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
Duach Makuach
1 year old
June 15, 2008 - April 12, 2010
Stearns
Description of death
Duach was beaten repeatedly with a shoe.
Child protection history
The county said there was no child protection history with the family in Minnesota, but after the death learned there were four contacts with the state of Iowa in 2009.
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Avory Raffety
3 months old
July 18, 2009 - October 30, 2009
Big Stone
Description of death
Avory was shaken to death by his father.
Child protection history
The agency received a child abuse report on Oct. 22, 2009, and met with a parent the next day. On Oct. 26, Avory was taken to the hospital, and died from his injuries four days later. According to the county social services director, the initial child abuse report was screened in as an investigation.
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Maelie Seither
10 months old
February 19, 2008 - January 3, 2009
Carver County
Description of death
Maelie’s death was blamed on a number of conditions possibly resulting from delayed medical care.
Child protection history
According to Carver County, there were two reports prior to the child's death. "The first report was of a possible sex offender staying in the home. The second report was about mom pushing the baby up as high as the mom can reach and then bringing her down to a chair."
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
Alyshia Petersen
1 year old
August 25, 2008 - October 15, 2009
Carver County
Description of death
Alyshia choked to death eating green beans in a high chair while being babysat by her brother.
Child protection history
Her family had been reported five times to CPS before the child's death. At time of her death, she was being babysat by a boy with developmental disabilities, according to the county's child services director. Reasons for the reports were not disclosed by Carver County.
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
Michael Becht
10 years old
May 21, 1999 - July 6, 2009
Dakota County
Description of death
The boy was murdered by his mother in an attempted murder suicide.
Child protection history
According to the CHIPS petition, Michael Becht "had been open to Dakota County Children's Mental Health on a voluntary basis due to a mental health diagnosis and related behavior issues." That same petition said Ramsey County child protection records show Michael was present when his father solicited an undercover police officer for prostitution and masturbated in public.
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Alexander Heikes
1 month old
May 16, 2009 - July 4, 2009
Hennepin County
Description of death
Alexander was squeezed to death by his father, Alexander Heikes, Sr., who admitted he had "rage problems."
Child protection history
Alexander's brother was placed in long-term foster care in 2007 and was reunited with his mother that year. In 2007, the mother was found responsible for maltreatment when Alexander's brother was shaken. In 2009, the county received two reports about his brother's behavior. A case was opened and ongoing when Alexander died.
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Jaden Hummel
8 months old
December 1, 2008 - August 22, 2009
Hennepin County
Description of death
Jaden was violently shaken by his father, Jesse Hummel, who was convicted of first degree murder.Child protection history
In either 2002 or 2003, Dakota County opened a case against Jesse Hummel after getting a report that his 3-month old baby had been abused. The boy had bleeding on his brain that required surgery and injuries to his head and face including bruising on his jaw line. Hummel pleaded guilty to felony malicious punishment of a child.
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Tila Friend-Ballinger
9 months old
September 5, 2008 - June 21, 2009
Mille Lacs County
Description of death
The girl had a skull fracture. Her father, Lance Ballinger, pleaded guilty to assault in the death. Mille Lacs child protection said he was intoxicated when caring for Tila.
Child protection history
Mille Lacs child protection completed one previous child maltreatment investigation from a report received on Nov. 5, 2009 due to allegations that the girl was physically abused from a head injury. The girl had partial skull fractures. Child protection was told that an older sibling picked Tila up and dropped her on the head. A consulting physician report indicated that the information reported was quite possibly consistent with injury. An investigation was switched to family assessment due to the cooperation of parents.
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Samantha Fraga
2 years old
August 11, 2005 - March 21, 2008
Nobles County
Description of death
Samantha was raped and murdered by her uncle
Child protection history
According to Nobles County, the agency received a report in June 2007 that was accepted as a family assessment. According to a CHIPS petition, the report pertained to the girl's father doing drugs in the home. Children were placed in foster care. In January 2008, the agency received a child welfare report. No investigation was conducted.
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Jessica Dexter
2 months old
October 6, 2008 - December 29, 2008
Olmsted County
Description of death
Jessica died of malnourishment, dehydration, delayed growth and bilateral bacterial pneumonia. Her mother, Melissa Kunkel, was charged with child neglect.
Child protection history
According to a court petition, the child's mother "had a significant child protection history in multiple states" and "moved around" to avoid social services. In October 2008, Olmsted County received a report that her 6-year old child had missed multiple days of school. The case was closed in December after a county social worker was only able to meet with the mother once. The girl died that month.
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
Rhania Jones
2 months old
December 30, 2008 - March 4, 2009
Ramsey County
Description of death
Rhania was shaken to death or "thumped" against a soft surface by her father, Louis Jones.
Child protection history
When the baby was born there was suspicion that she was positive for THC. A lab test determined that the mother was not positive for amphetamines, and the positive opiate results were a result of the medications administered at the hospital.
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Brianna Jackson
1 year old
December 4, 2007 - July 2, 2009
Ramsey County
Description of death
The girl drowned in a bathtub at her foster home in July 2009.The foster father, Daniel Lee Wright, was convicted of second degree manslaughter for the death.
Child protection history
Jackson was removed from her parents' home after she was diagnosed with brain bleeding consistent with shaken baby syndrome.
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Joshua Elliott
5 months old
May 30, 2008 - November 17, 2008
Hennepin County
Description of death
The boy was sleeping with his mother. When she awoke, he was found lying facedown inside the bedroom closet with a plastic bag stuck to his face. She told police that the night before she took prescription medication that "reportedly" causes her "to sleep hard."
Child protection history
In 2008, Milwaukee County received a reported that the mother exposed her newborn son to controlled substances while she was pregnant. She tested positive for cocaine when she gave birth to the boy. According to the CHIPS petition, when she and her husband moved to Minnesota they had not completed services.
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
Dylan Martin
2 years old
October 18, 2005 - March 12, 2008
Morrison County
Description of death
Dylan died of injuries after being thrown in a rage by his mother's boyfriend, Robert O'Jala. His mother was found responsible for medical neglect.
Child protection history
In November 2007, Morrison County ordered a family assessment after a girl was left unattended and asleep in a car. In February 2008, Dylan was taken to a doctor on suspicion of child abuse. The doctor said abuse did not occur, and the case was switched to family assessment. The boy was killed a few weeks later.
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Lakesha Victor
10 years old
March 4, 1996 - August 20, 2006
Pine County
Description of death
The developmentally-disabled girl was starved to death. The mother and a caretaker were convicted in the death.
Child protection history
Family assessment opened in 2004 for unspecified reasons. In 2005, an investigation was conducted. No maltreatment was determined. Two other reports were not assessed.
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Robert Azure
1 year old
August 24, 2007 - October 1, 2008
Redwood County
Description of death
The boy suffered a fatal brain injury at the hands of his mother's boyfriend. An autopsy revealed multiple skull fractures and healing injuries.
Child protection history
The county received a report in August 2008 that was screened out because it didn't meet the maltreatment criteria. The child was killed the next month.
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Caiden Parks
1 year old
January 24, 2007 - January 27, 2008
St. Louis County
Description of death
He was beaten by his stepfather, Joseph Ricketts.
Child protection history
In April 2007, the county referred the family to a family assessment after getting a report alleging two children in the home were being neglected. Another report was screened in for family assessment in August 2007 after the home was reported to be in poor condition. While the social worker was there, a mark was found on the wrist of another child in the home, which the child said was caused by Joseph Ricketts. He denied the abuse. Services were offered to the family and the case was closed in December 2007. Caiden died the next month.
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Nevaeh Jones
6 week-old
March 24, 2006 - May 16, 2007
Anoka County
Description of death
Nevaeh's father, Jamie Andrews, was convicted of manslaughter after being accused of shaking the baby to death.
Child protection history
Five months prior to Nevaeh's death, a report was made to Hennepin County in January 2007. Maltreatment was determined, but services were deemed not needed. According to the juvenile court report, the child's mother said Andrews kicked down the door of her apartment, demanded to know where her gun was, and started beating her. One of the punches hit Nevaeh. The mother reported to Hennepin Child Protection that she had a history of domestic incidents with Jamie Andrews.
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Cecilia Bodem
11 months old
September 2, 2006 -
August 25, 2007
Dakota County
Description of death
Cecilia's mother, Katherine Bodem, drowned her baby in a bathtub.
Child protection services history
Neighbors said they repeatedly called child protection, according to a 2007 Star Tribune story. "They said attempts to enlist the help of social service agencies in Le Sueur and Dakota counties failed because, they were told, no laws had been broken." Dakota County says it has no prior record of calls.Mortality review recommendations
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Carlito Ortiz
4 months old
July 10, 2007 - October 19, 2007
Mower County
Description of death
The infant was assaulted by his 30-year old babysitter.
Child protection history
According to Mower County, a report was made against the family for suspected child neglect on September 21, 2007, a month before he died. The case was opened as a family assessment. Less than a month later, the child died.
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
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Destiny Jackson
1 year old
November 3, 2005 -
February 13, 2007
Ramsey County
Description of death
The girl was beaten to death by her father, Beauford C. Jackson III.
Child protection history
The girl was removed from her parents custody two weeks before her death after she was found to have a complex skull fracture. The child was put into emergency foster care. The parents denied the abuse, but child neglect was determined because the father did not seek medical services for more than two days after the incident. The girl was returned to the home on Jan. 31.
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Sahra Abu
1 year old
December 28, 2004 - December 5, 2006
Anoka County
Description of death
The girl was violently shaken by her mother's boyfriend, Ahmed Mohamed. Her death was ruled a homicide due to massive internal injuries to the chest and abdomen, contusions to the chest and back, severe liver laceration, and internal bleeding. Mohamed pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder. Sahra's mother, Khadijo Ali, pleaded guilty to 2nd degree manslaughter.
Child protection history
Ten reports were made regarding the family dating back to 2003 prior to Sahra's death. Among those reports: In 2006, Hennepin County was told Sahra's mother was using drugs and not caring for her children. The next month, the county received a report that Ali abandoned two of her children.
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Jordan Gonsioroski
10 years old
January 27, 1996 - July 15, 2006
Anoka County
Description of death
Jordan died after being placed in a scalding hot bathtub and not getting medical attention afterward. Seventy-three percent of her body was scalded. Her father, Jason Gonsioroski, was convicted of second degree murder. His girlfriend, Julie Ann Meier, was also convicted of second degree murder.
Child protection history
According to the county, there were two reports prior to the girl's death. According to a juvenile court record, when Jordan was 8 she was removed from her mother's custody after she was allegedly sexually abused by her mother's boyfriend.
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Gabriel Hajicek
1 year old
February 8, 2005 - April 6, 2006
Carver County
Description of death
Gabriel drowned when his mother left the baby and a 3-year-old sibling in a bathtub, according to Carver County records.
Mortality review recommendations
According to Carver County, there was a prior report made to the county about the childrens' home being dirty and being locked in their rooms. Carver County said maltreatment was determined in the case.
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Seventh Estes
3 months old
February 24, 2006 - May 29, 2006
Hennepin County
Description of death
Seventh suffocated after her face was covered by a plastic bag.
Child protection history
In February 2006, Hennepin County received a report that the child's mother tested positive many times during her pregnancy with Seventh. After the baby was born, child protection interviewed the children, who said they saw their mother use drugs, and the activity was "described as using something small and white and she was 'putting it on fire.'"
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
Michael Coleman
4 months old
March 1, 2006 - July 4, 2006
Hennepin County
Description of death
His father, Paul Coleman, covered him with a large comforter to stop him from crying. The boy suffocated and died. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, and also found multiple healing fractures in both of his legs. The father, Paul Coleman, was convicted of 2nd degree manslaughter.
Child protection history
The county had previously filed a petition to terminate Coleman's parental rights in 2003 due to physically abusing their then-infant twins. In 2004, the children were returned to the family. In 2005, Minneapolis police filed a maltreatment report after one of the children was found not breathing regularly. That report was screened out because the physician did not allege abuse occured.
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Malaya Douglas
2 years old
May 8, 2004 - August 30, 2006
Hennepin County
Description of death
Malaya's father, Pierre Gray, beat the girl to death after a toilet-training accident. Both Gray and Douglas' stepmother, Brandilyn Douglas, were found responsible for maltreatment.
Child protection history
In 2002, Brandilyn Douglas lost custody of another child after she was accused of abusing drugs and one of her children tested positive for cocaine; in 2004, Malaya Douglas was placed in foster care as a baby when she and her mother tested positive for drugs at birth in 2004. In 2005, a family assessment was conducted following a report that drugs and guns were found in the home of Malaya's father and stepmother.
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Jeremiah Wofford
1 year old
July 4, 2004 - May 1, 2006
Ramsey County
Description of death
The boy was suffocated by his mother, Triena Wofford.
Child protection history
According to Ramsey County, the children were previously removed from their home in Ohio because of reported abuse. When she gave birth to twins, they were immediately removed from custody and placed in foster care separate from other siblings. The children were eventually reunited with their mother.
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Rhythm Gatter
2 months old
December 7, 2004 - February 9, 2005
Hennepin County
Description of death
The girl was left unattended on her stomach and suffocated. Maltreatment was substantiated against the mother, Crystal.
Child protection history
In 2003, Crystal Gatter gave birth to another child, Honesty. That same day she informed hospital staff she did not want to keep the baby and wanted to give her up for adoption. Several months later her parental rights to the child were terminated.
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
Dakota Forss
1 year old
October 28, 2003 - April 12, 2005
Ramsey County
Description of death
Dakota was kicked, squeezed, bruised and killed by Joseph Rex Bell, his mother's live-in boyfriend. Both parents were determined to have maltreated the child.
Child protection history
The family and child had a child protection history since 2001, including reports made in January 2001 and August 2003 for unspecified reasons.
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Demond Reed
4 years old
January 2, 2004 -
February 10, 2008
Hennepin County
Description of death
Demond was found in the closet in home of aunt, Carla Poole. An autopsy showed he had a variety of bites, cuts and bruises over his body, and that he was in a great deal of pain before he died. Poole admitted to hitting the child and hiding his body. She told police she beat him as a result of a toileting accident.
Child protection history
There were six reports made about Poole prior to Demond's death about her own children, including a 2005 report that she neglected her kids and lived with a man who sold drugs out of the home. The next year she was named as a suspect in a severe burning incident of a child who had been in her care, but there was insufficient evidence to indicate Poole was the perpetrator.
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Imani Jackson
1 month old
January 20, 2014 - March 2, 2014
Hennepin County
Description of death
Imani was found face down in a laundry basket where she regularly slept; there was no crib found in the home.
Child protection history
The parents have a child protection history dating back to 1993. Nine of the parent’s 11 children had been removed from their custody prior to Imani’s death.
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.
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Layna Peterson
1 year old
May 11, 2013 - July 6, 2014
St. Louis County
Description of death
Layna's father, Christopher Peterson, has pleaded guilty to suffocating the girl.
Child protection history
Three reports were made prior to the girl's death. In April 2011 a sibling was reported for neglect. The case was opened as a family assessment. In December 2013 Layna was physically abused by Chris Peterson. She was found with facial bruises along her jaw. No charges were filed. A third report was made when the mother gave birth and tested positive for pot. A family assessment case was opened.
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Connor Robison
11 months old
September 12, 2007 - September 4, 2008
St. Louis County
Description of death
Connor's death was ruled a homicide after he died of a ruptured liver.
Child protection history
Family assessment opened after another child in the family was found running down a Duluth street alone. The mother was asleep in the home.
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Joseph Jenkins
2 months old
July 24, 2014 - October 18, 2014
Itasca County
Description of death
Joseph was beaten to death. A medical examiner noted that he had a fractured skull, multiple rib fractures, and numerous injuries throughout his body. His father, Emery James Jenkins, has been charged with second degree murder.
Child protection history
In 2009, Aitkin County asked for a court to intervene to protect kids Jenkins had with his then girlfriend. The children were reported to be medically neglected and had access to marijuana.
Mortality review file
Not provided by the county.