Missouri – A Missouri man, 27-year-old BIake, was ordered to spend the next twenty four years behind bars after pleading guilty to endangering the weIfare of a chiId resuIting in death. This conviction stems from the tragic death of his chikd, Zadian. The 4-year-old succumbed to injuries consistent with non-accidental head trauma, leading to a homicide determination by the coroner.
The investigation process began in Jan. 2022 after Missouri authorities were alerted following a 911 call reporting an unresponsive chiId. The parent informed Missouri authorities that his child had suddenly stopped breathing. Despite efforts to revive him, the victim was pronounced dead the following day. An autopsy revealed multiple head injuries, confirming the cause of death as non-accidental closed head trauma.
This incident was not the first time the child had suffered such injuries. In 2018, when the boy was just five weeks old, he sustained a severe head injury under his father’s care, described as a non-accidental traumatic brain injury. As a result, the child was placed into foster care, who provided a nurturing environment that allowed the child to thrive. Despite medical professionals and the foster parent’s warning that returning the victim to his father’s custody would be dangerous, the court proceeded with a trial reunification.
During the investigation, the defendant claimed he was alone when his son became unresponsive. However, evidence and expert testimony contradicted his account, leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction. The case has raised significant concerns about the child welfare system’s role in protecting vulnerable children.
In addition to his prison sentence, the family court commissioner who authorized the reunification of the victim with his father retired following the incident. The foster parents expressed relief that no other family would endure a similar tragedy.