Case Report: Child Fatality and the Intersection of Justice and Sustainable Development Goals

This report examines the legal case surrounding the death of one-year-old Elliott Floyd, focusing on its implications for several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The case involves the child’s mother, Abigale Winget, who was sentenced for child neglect, and her subsequent attempt to withdraw her plea under new legislation designed to protect victims of domestic abuse.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The circumstances of this case directly relate to global objectives concerning justice, child protection, gender equality, and health. It highlights critical challenges in achieving key SDG targets at the community level.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The case is a stark illustration of failures in institutional and personal responsibilities to protect the vulnerable, a core tenet of SDG 16.

• Target 16.2 (End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children): The death of a 23-month-old child from blunt force trauma inflicted by a caregiver is a direct contravention of this target. The subsequent failure to seek medical attention constitutes extreme neglect and violence.
• Target 16.3 (Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice): The ongoing legal proceedings, including the conviction of the perpetrator and the sentencing of the mother, demonstrate the justice system’s role in ensuring accountability. The mother’s attempt to utilize the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act reflects the evolving nature of legal frameworks designed to provide equitable justice.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The defendant’s legal strategy introduces a significant gender dimension, invoking legislation aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence, which aligns with SDG 5.

• Target 5.2 (Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls): Winget’s defense claims she was a victim of abuse by her partner, Terry Hindman, the man convicted of murdering her son. This claim positions the case within the broader context of intimate partner violence and its complex impact on a victim’s actions and ability to protect others.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The victim’s health status and the denial of medical care are central to the case, underscoring the importance of SDG 3.

• Target 3.2 (End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age): Elliott Floyd’s death was preventable. It resulted not only from the initial act of violence but also from the subsequent denial of essential medical intervention, a failure that directly opposes the global goal to eliminate preventable child deaths.

Chronological Overview of Case Events

1. October 24, 2019: The victim, Elliott Floyd, is born with significant medical issues requiring ongoing care.
2. September 29, 2021: Terry Hindman, the mother’s boyfriend, inflicts fatal injuries on the child. No medical assistance is sought.
3. October 2, 2021: The child dies from blunt force trauma after medical help is delayed.
4. May 9, 2022: Terry Hindman pleads guilty to second-degree murder and is sentenced to 17.5 years in prison.
5. June 25, 2025: Abigale Winget pleads no contest to child neglect.
6. August 21, 2025: Winget is sentenced to 12 years in prison, with 4 years to be served.
7. August 29, 2025: Winget’s legal counsel files a motion to withdraw her plea.

Legal Frameworks and Future Actions

The Oklahoma Survivors’ Act

This state law, passed in 2024, is a critical component of the current legal challenge. It allows incarcerated individuals who were victims of domestic abuse to apply for sentencing relief. To qualify, applicants must provide substantial evidence of the abuse, such as court records or sworn testimony. This legislation reflects a systemic effort to align the justice system with the principles of SDG 5 and SDG 16 by recognizing the duress under which victims of violence may act.

Next Steps

The immediate future of the case rests on a judicial decision regarding Abigale Winget’s motion to withdraw her no-contest plea. This ruling will determine whether evidence of her alleged domestic abuse will be formally considered in her sentencing, potentially impacting the final outcome and setting a precedent for the application of the Survivors’ Act.

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

The article highlights issues of child abuse, homicide, domestic violence, and the justice system, which directly connect to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals provide a framework for understanding the societal failures and legal challenges presented in the case.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is central to the article, which revolves around a violent crime (the murder of a child), the subsequent legal proceedings, and the pursuit of justice. The case of Elliott Floyd directly addresses the need to protect children from violence and ensure that justice systems are effective and fair.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This goal is relevant due to the mother’s, Abigale Winget’s, claim of being a victim of domestic abuse by her boyfriend, who killed her son. The introduction of the “Oklahoma Survivors’ Act” specifically addresses the intersection of domestic violence and the criminal justice system, which is a key component of achieving gender equality and protecting women from violence.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The death of a 23-month-old child from “blunt force trauma” is a tragic failure to ensure a child’s right to life and well-being. This SDG aims to end preventable deaths of children, and a death resulting from violence is the most preventable of all.

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

Based on the specific events and legal context described in the article, several SDG targets can be identified.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.” The murder of Elliott Floyd is a direct example of a violent death that this target aims to prevent.
  • Target 16.2: “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.” The article’s core subject is the fatal abuse of a child. The act of Terry Hindman throwing the 23-month-old boy “across the room with excessive force” is a clear instance of the violence this target seeks to eliminate.
  • Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and local levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The entire narrative—from the initial 911 call to the pleas, sentencing, and the attempt to withdraw the plea under a new law—is an illustration of the justice process. The father’s statement that he “will continue to fight for justice for his baby boy” underscores the importance of this target.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  • Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres…” This target is directly addressed by the claim that Abigale Winget was “being abused by the boyfriend at the time.” The Oklahoma Survivors’ Act, which allows incarcerated victims of domestic abuse to seek sentencing relief, is a legal mechanism designed to address the consequences of such violence.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  • Target 3.2: “By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age…” Elliott Floyd was 23 months old when he was killed. His death from violence is a preventable death of a child under five, making this target highly relevant.

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

The article provides specific details that serve as qualitative examples for official SDG indicators used to measure progress.

• Indicators for SDG 16

  • Implied Indicator 16.1.1: “Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population…” The death of Elliott Floyd, for which Terry Hindman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, represents a single data point for this indicator.
  • Implied Indicator 16.2.1: “Proportion of children aged 1-17 years who experienced any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression by caregivers…” The article describes an extreme and fatal act of physical violence against a child by a caregiver figure (the mother’s boyfriend), which falls under the scope of this indicator.

• Indicator for SDG 5

  • Implied Indicator 5.2.1: “Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls… subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner…” Abigale Winget’s claim of being abused by her boyfriend is a direct reference to the intimate partner violence measured by this indicator. The evidence her attorney plans to use—”court records, social service reports, or sworn witness statements”—are the types of data sources used to track this issue.

• Indicator for SDG 3

  • Implied Indicator 3.2.1: “Under-5 mortality rate.” The death of a 23-month-old child is a statistic that contributes to the overall under-5 mortality rate. The article specifies the cause of death as “blunt force trauma,” providing a specific data point on preventable, violent child deaths.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news9.com