The prosecution alleged a mother’s abuse caused her infant’s death during opening statements in a homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on May 28.
Faneshia Scott, 38, is charged with seven counts of first-degree cruelty to children and two counts of first-degree felony murder while the victim was especially vulnerable due to age. The charges stem from her alleged involvement in the death of her 16-month-old daughter, Rhythm Fields, and assault of her two- and four-year-old children on the 5400 block of C Street, SE, on March 21, 2017.
In opening statements, the prosecution said Fields died from blunt force trauma, sustained injuries consistent with being shaken and struck with an object, and had healing bone fractures. They added that cough syrup was allegedly found both at the scene and in Fields’ system.
Prosecutors played a video interview in which Scott admitted to shaking her daughter in an attempt to stop her from crying. They said Scott’s former best friend and Fields’ godmother will testify that she disapproved of Scott’s parenting style, including allegedly beating her children.
Scott “chose neglect over nurture” and “harm over help,” asserted prosecutors.
The prosecution emphasized they were not shaming a young mother facing homelessness while raising three children, but contended that Scott deliberately took actions that resulted in Fields’death and should be found guilty.
Scott’s defense attorney, Megan Allburn, told the jury they will have many doubts, unanswered questions, and missing pieces to the prosecution’s puzzle. Allburn asked the jury to focus on questions raised during defense cross-examination of witnesses.
“This case is about the most unimaginable type of tragedy, the loss of a child,” said Allburn.
Following opening statements, the prosecution called a United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier who testified that around 3:00 p. m. on March 21 she was delivering mail when a woman emerged from her apartment screaming, and asked to use her phone to call 911 because her baby was unconscious.
In the apartment, the witness said she observed a baby on the couch and two other small children. The 911 operator guided the witness through CPR compressions on the baby and she testified that the baby did not move the entire time she was there. The witness also said three-to-four neighbors entered the apartment to help.
The prosecution also called a neighbor and his son, who lived in the same apartment complex, and said they attempted CPR on Fields. They both said Fields’ body felt cold when they touched her.
The neighbor also said he witnessed an interaction outside the apartment in which the mother was in a police car when another woman, who he described as hostile and violent, approached the car and began hitting the mother. The witness said he overheard the woman repeatedly say “B*tch I told you not to give my baby that Robitussin” to the mother. Prosecutors said the woman was Fields’ godmother.
Two first responders from the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (DCFEMS) testified they responded to a call for an infant in cardiac arrest. They explained their decision to not perform CPR on Fields because she had no heartbeat or breathing, showed pale coloring, and exhibited rigor mortis—a stiffening of the muscles that occurs a few hours after death.
“Too much time had passed to perform CPR,” said the DCFEMS lieutenant paramedic. He also said he overheard the mother tell an officer the baby was sleeping from around 9:00 a. m. to 3:00 p. m. that day.
During cross-examination, Scott’s other attorney, Steven Kiersh, pointed out that CPR procedures vary between infants and adults and questioned multiple witnesses’ CPR training.
A specialist from the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) also testified that he collected items from the scene including a pink baby bottle, belt, stained sheet from the Pack ‘N Play, and a Dollar Tree receipt with cough syrup on it.
Kiersh asked the witness to display the belt in court and noted it was fabric, not leather, and the only metal part of the belt is the buckle.
The trial will resume on May 29.
