Report on Child Fatality Cases in Leon County: A Sustainable Development Goals Perspective

Executive Summary

Recent grand jury indictments in Leon County for the murder of two young children highlight a critical challenge to community safety and well-being. These events represent a severe setback in the progress toward several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which call for the protection of children, the promotion of health, and the establishment of just societies. This report analyzes these cases through the lens of the SDGs.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The preventable deaths of young children directly contravene the goal of ensuring healthy lives.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The violence inflicted upon these children is a direct violation of the target to end all forms of violence against children (Target 16.2).

Violation of SDG 16.2: Ending Violence Against Children

SDG Target 16.2 explicitly calls to “end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.” The recent indictments in Leon County underscore a failure to meet this fundamental goal. The cases demonstrate the lethal consequences of child abuse within the community.

1. Case of Ryan Robinson: Mr. Robinson, 33, was indicted for first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. The victim, a 3-month-old infant at the time of the incident in 2019, suffered from inflicted head trauma and languished in a coma for over five years before succumbing to his injuries on July 3. Medical examinations confirmed injuries consistent with severe abuse, including bilateral retinal hemorrhage.
2. Case of Raymona Ford: Ms. Ford, 24, was indicted for first-degree murder and aggravated battery in the drowning death of her 2-year-old son on May 9. An investigation concluded that the child was struck multiple times, leading to seizures, and was left unattended in a bathtub, resulting in his death.

These incidents are part of a broader, disturbing trend noted by the State Attorney’s office, which undermines the core principles of SDG 16.

• The May 19 death of 5-year-old Melissa Mogle from severe abuse, resulting in murder charges for both parents.
• The July 18 indictment of Deric Young for first-degree murder in the death of a 1-year-old girl.

Impact on SDG 3: Preventable Child Deaths and Well-being

SDG Target 3.2 aims to “end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age.” The deaths of these children are classified as preventable and are a direct result of violence and neglect, representing a failure to achieve this critical health objective. State Attorney Jack Campbell has noted a statewide increase in child murders, indicating a systemic issue that threatens child health and survival. The physical trauma documented in these cases constitutes a grave violation of a child’s right to health and well-being from the earliest stages of life.

Institutional Response and the Pursuit of Justice (SDG 16)

While the prevalence of these crimes signifies a failure in preventative child protection, the legal response aligns with the SDG 16 objective of promoting “peace, justice and strong institutions.” The actions of the Leon County grand jury and the State Attorney’s Office to indict and prosecute the alleged perpetrators are essential functions of a just legal system. State Attorney Campbell affirmed that these crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, stating, “There are few things more innocent than a child… There’s nothing that they could have possibly done to deserve that fate.” This commitment to accountability is a necessary, albeit reactive, component of building a just society as envisioned by SDG 16. However, the recurring nature of these tragedies underscores the urgent need for stronger preventative systems to protect vulnerable children and fully realize the ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is central to the article, which focuses on violence, murder, child abuse, and the justice system’s response. The indictment of individuals on murder and abuse charges, and the role of the State Attorney, directly relate to promoting justice and combating violence.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article details severe physical harm to children, including “great bodily harm,” “head trauma,” “ruptured blood vessels,” and ultimately, death. These issues are directly counter to the goal of ensuring healthy lives and well-being, particularly for children.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   The article explicitly discusses a “string of murders” and an “increase in child murders” in Tallahassee, as noted by State Attorney Jack Campbell. The entire piece is about deaths resulting from violence against children, making this target highly relevant.

2. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

   This target is directly addressed through the numerous examples of child abuse mentioned. The indictments include charges of “aggravated child abuse,” and the article describes cases of “inflicted abuse” and “severe child abuse” suffered by the young victims.

3. Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age.

   The article highlights the deaths of several children who fall into this age group: a 3-month-old infant, a 1-year-old girl, a 2-year-old boy, and a 5-year-old girl. These deaths were caused by abuse and neglect, which are preventable causes, directly linking the article’s content to this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 16.1 (Number of intentional homicides): The article provides qualitative and quantitative data that can be used for this indicator. The State Attorney’s comment that “I’ve never seen this many children being killed” and the mention of a “string of murders” imply a measurement of the number of child homicides. The specific cases (deaths of a 3-month-old, 1-year-old, 2-year-old, and 5-year-old) serve as data points for this indicator.
• Indicator for Target 16.2 (Number of victims of violence): The article implies this indicator by citing specific charges of “aggravated child abuse” and describing the “disturbing trend” of abuse cases. The indictment of two people for abuse and the mention of other cases provide concrete examples that would be counted under this indicator.
• Indicator for Target 3.2 (Under-5 mortality rate): While the article does not calculate a rate, it provides the raw data that contributes to it. The deaths of the 3-month-old, 1-year-old, and 2-year-old are all instances of under-5 mortality. The article’s focus on these preventable deaths highlights the challenge in achieving this target.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: tallahassee.com