In the town of Trimbelle, Wisconsin, a three-week-old baby died after a Pierce County sergeant responded on March 14 to a report that the child was not breathing. The criminal complaint described by WEAU states that the baby was unresponsive when the sergeant arrived. CPR was performed, but Ellsworth paramedics determined they could not revive the child. According to the report, an autopsy later determined that the baby died from methamphetamine toxicity. The report also states that Jessie Kittelson has been charged with possession of methamphetamine as party to a crime, possession of drug paraphernalia as party to a crime, first-degree reckless homicide as party to a crime, and chronic neglect of a child resulting in death as party to a crime. Online court records set Kittelson's cash bond at $10,000. The criminal complaint reportedly includes statements from Kittelson about breastfeeding and methamphetamine use, as well as statements attributed to Taylor Olson, the baby's father. Those allegations and the charges remain matters for the criminal court process. Kittelson has a preliminary hearing scheduled for September 8, and Olson is scheduled for an initial appearance on September 23. What Makes This Incident Different The death of a very young child calls for a careful investigation that may involve emergency-response information, medical findings, toxicology evidence, and the circumstances surrounding the child's care before the emergency call. Here, the reported autopsy finding makes forensic evidence particularly important. This is also an incident in which a criminal case is underway. Criminal charges can provide information about allegations being examined by law enforcement and prosecutors, but a charge is not a conviction. The evidence presented in court will determine what occurred and whether any person is legally responsible under criminal law. For a family coping with a child's death, the criminal process can be emotionally difficult and may take time. It is important to distinguish confirmed medical findings reported by authorities from allegations that must still be tested through the legal process. Questions Investigators May Examine Investigators may examine several questions that are relevant to the reported circumstances, including: - Whether medical and toxicology evidence can clarify the timing and nature of the exposure identified by the autopsy. - Whether emergency dispatch, law-enforcement observations, paramedic care, and later medical findings establish a reliable timeline. - Whether statements reportedly provided to law enforcement can be corroborated by independent evidence. - Whether information about feeding, stored breast milk, pumping, or other care practices may help clarify the child's exposure, if any. - Whether phone or internet activity referenced in the complaint may be relevant and can be authenticated. These are investigative questions, not conclusions. The available evidence, expert analysis, and court proceedings will determine what weight any individual item should receive. Evidence That May Need to Be Preserved In a child-death matter involving a reported toxicology finding, potentially important material may include: - Autopsy reports, toxicology testing, laboratory records, and any retained forensic samples, if available. - 911 recordings, dispatch logs, paramedic reports, and records of resuscitation efforts. - Law-enforcement reports, photographs, body-camera footage, interview recordings, and evidence-collection documentation. - Medical records that may be relevant to the child's care and treatment. - Any available records concerning feeding, pumping, breast-milk storage, or related caregiving timelines. - Phones, messages, cloud data, and search-history information that may be relevant to statements described in the complaint. - Court filings and hearing records from the pending criminal cases. Preservation should be handled lawfully and promptly. Families should not alter devices, records, or physical items that could become important evidence. What Families Should Know A criminal prosecution and a civil wrongful-death matter are separate processes. Prosecutors decide whether to pursue criminal charges, while a civil case may address whether a person or entity can be held financially accountable under Wisconsin law. A criminal case does not automatically resolve every civil question, and the outcome of one proceeding may not dictate the outcome of the other. Wisconsin law can impose deadlines and procedural requirements on wrongful-death and estate-related claims. The appropriate person to bring a claim, the available damages, and the role of an estate representative can depend on the family's circumstances and the facts that can be established. Speaking with a lawyer early can help a family understand potential deadlines, preserve relevant information, and avoid relying on incomplete assumptions while investigations continue. Families may also wish to keep copies of communications from investigators, medical providers, and court personnel. A clear record of contacts, documents received, and upcoming hearing dates can be useful while the case develops. How Dunk Law Can Help Dunk Law represents families facing wrongful-death and catastrophic-injury matters in Wisconsin. In a case involving the death of a child and a pending criminal investigation, our team can review the available facts, explain the difference between criminal and civil proceedings, identify evidence that may need preservation, and assess whether a civil claim should be considered. A consultation can give a family a confidential opportunity to discuss the reported circumstances, questions about an estate or potential claim, and the next steps that may be available under Wisconsin law. Related Dunk Law Resources - Wrongful death claims - Catastrophic injury claims - All practice areas This post is based on publicly available news reports and is provided for general information only. It is not legal advice.