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Child Fatalities / Near Fatalities Information Releases

State law mandates the Arizona Department of Child Safety to release preliminary information and, upon request, additional records in cases where children have died or nearly died as a result of abuse, abandonment or neglect by a parent, guardian or caregiver.

If DCS receives a report that a child has died or nearly died as a result of abuse, abandonment or neglect, the preliminary information will be posted on this page.

While DCS strives to provide timely information regarding child deaths and near deaths, state law prohibits the department from releasing information until it is determined that a child died, or nearly died, because of abuse, abandonment or neglect by a parent, guardian or caregiver.

DCS may only post on a death or near death if it has been determined that it was caused by abuse, abandonment or neglect if: 1) the perpetrator is arrested related to the incident; 2) a superior court finds a child dependent based on the allegations of abuse or neglect leading to the death or near death; or 3) DCS, through its own internal review and administrative appeal process, substantiates findings linking the allegations of abuse or neglect to the death or near death. Further, if the posting is on a near death, a medical professional must determine that the child was in serious or critical condition.

If a posting is warranted, state law requires the following preliminary information be included:

The name, age and city, town or general location of residence of the child who has suffered a death or near death;
The fact that a child suffered a near death or death as the result of abuse, abandonment or neglect;
The name, age and city, town or general location of residence of the alleged perpetrator, if available;
Whether there have been reports, or any current or past cases, of abuse, abandonment or neglect involving the child and the current alleged abusive or neglectful parent, guardian or custodian; and,
Actions taken by DCS in response to the death or near death of the child.

For more information on how to request DCS records, click here.

For more information on the process for DCS to release information, click here.

Honoring Child Fatality and Near Fatality Victims

Below you will see ribbons next to each child victim’s name that will indicate the manner of preventable, life-threatening injury or death, based on available information. The ribbons will bring awareness to the community, and will help honor these children. As a community, we must commit ourselves to actively engage families and work toward reducing or eliminating these preventable, yet tragic, outcomes.

Preliminary Report Post Date	Summary Report Post Date	Name	Preliminary Report	Summary Report	STATEMENT
05/21/2024	05/21/2024	Near Fatality	Report	Report	Statement
05/21/2024	05/21/2024	Brayden Butcher	Report	Report	Statement
05/13/2024	05/13/2024	Michael Fontes	Report	Report
05/13/2024	05/13/2024	Near Fatality	Report	Report
05/13/2024	05/13/2024	Near Fatality - Amended	Report	Report	Statement
05/10/2024	05/10/2024	Brian Mejia	Report	Report	Statement
05/09/2024	05/09/2024	Jace Welch and Near Fatality	Report, Report	Report, Report	Statement
05/08/2024	05/08/2024	Selma Felix	Report	Report	Statement
05/07/2024	05/07/2024	Julius Rainbolt	Report	Report	Statement
05/03/2024	05/03/2024	Sa'mere Marrs	Report	Report