Missouri – BIake, a 27-year-old Missouri man, was sentenced to twenty-four years in prison after pleading guilty to endangering the welfare of a child, resulting in death.
This conviction stems from the tragic death of his child, Zadian. The 4-year-old died from injuries consistent with non-accidental head trauma, prompting the coroner to rule it a homicide.
The investigation began in January 2022, after Missouri authorities received a 911 call reporting an unresponsive chiId.
The parent notified Missouri authorities that his child had abruptly stopped breathing. Despite efforts to revive him, the victim was pronounced dead the next day. An autopsy revealed several head injuries, confirming the cause of death as non-accidental closed head trauma.
The child had previously suffered similar injuries. When the boy was only five weeks old, he suffered a severe head injury under his father’s care, which was classified as a non-accidental traumatic brain injury.
As a result, the child was placed in foster care, where they provided a nurturing environment in which the child could thrive.
Despite medical professionals and the foster parent’s warnings that returning the victim to his father’s custody would be dangerous, the court went ahead with the trial reunification.
During the investigation, the defendant stated that he was alone when his son became unresponsive.
However, evidence and expert testimony contradicted his account, resulting in his arrest and conviction. The case has raised significant concerns about the child welfare system’s ability to protect vulnerable children.
In addition to his prison sentence, the family court commissioner who approved the victim’s reunification with his father retired after the incident. The foster parents were relieved that no other family would face a similar tragedy.
