GRANBURY, Texas — Nearly two years after 20-month-old Evelynn LeighAnn Black died, community advocates are again asking whether she received medical care soon enough and what authorities ultimately concluded about the circumstances surrounding her death.
Public records from the Tarrant County Medical Examiner identify Evelynn’s cause of death as acute leukemia and classify her death as natural. She died in a pediatric intensive care unit at 10:54 a.m. on October 14, 2024.
They also do not answer whether an alleged delay in seeking medical treatment was investigated, medically evaluated or referred to prosecutors.
The case recently received renewed attention after Homicide in the H00d circulated screenshots reportedly taken from a local Facebook group.
In the posts, an anonymous writer described a seriously ill child with pale skin, recurring marks described as bruises, unusual-looking lips, prolonged sleeping and little activity. The writer also expressed fear that hospital staff might blame the family for the marks.
Another screenshot shows the anonymous author claiming that a spouse would not allow the child to be taken to the hospital. A later update said the child would be okay and attributed her condition to COVID exposure, petechiae and slight dehydration.
Advocates say the exchange occurred on October 13, 2024, one day before Evelynn died. However, the circulated screenshots do not display complete calendar timestamps, and their authorship has not been independently verified.
Other screenshots bearing the name Marissa Black contain what appears to be the mother’s account. She described treating respiratory symptoms at home, said she and others were holistic health coaches and stated that she took Evelynn to the hospital when those efforts were not working. She also expressed regret that she did not take her sooner.
She disputed allegations that law enforcement forced her to seek medical care.
Those competing accounts could potentially be resolved through dispatch records, hospital documentation and the investigative file.
A GoFundMe created on October 14, 2024, attributed Evelynn’s death to RSV. The medical examiner’s current public record instead lists acute leukemia as the cause of death. It is unclear when the family received the final medical findings.
Leukemia can cause bruising, petechiae, fatigue and pale skin in children. That medical context means the symptoms described online cannot, by themselves, establish abuse or inflicted injuries.
The central unanswered question is whether the timing of Evelynn’s medical care affected her condition and whether qualified investigators or medical professionals evaluated that possibility.
Texas law does not automatically require a criminally negligent homicide charge whenever a child dies following an alleged delay in treatment. Prosecutors would need evidence that criminal negligence caused the death. Other state laws address injury to a child by omission and conduct that places a child in imminent danger, but each offense requires proof of specific facts.
The available records do not show whether investigators believed those laws applied in Evelynn’s case.
Advocates have also questioned why CPS records were heavily redacted. Texas law generally protects child-abuse and neglect investigations, although certain information involving child fatalities may be released under limited circumstances. Redactions alone do not prove that an agency concealed information or mishandled the case.
Hood County Express is calling on the agencies involved to provide a lawful, documented account of how the allegations were handled.
Sheriff Roger Deeds and District Attorney Ryan Sinclair should clarify whether their offices investigated, received or reviewed this matter. If another agency had responsibility, the public should be told which agency handled it.
Officials should answer the following questions:
- Is the case open, closed, under review or otherwise resolved?
- Which agency investigated the circumstances surrounding Evelynn’s death?
- When were concerns first reported, and when did she receive professional medical care?
- Was the alleged delay evaluated by qualified medical professionals?
- Was the case referred to prosecutors, and what was the disposition?
- What information can DFPS legally release concerning its findings?
Any documented failure to respond, preserve evidence, investigate allegations or properly evaluate a referral should receive supervisory review. Criminal charges should follow only when supported by evidence and Texas law. If authorities determined that no prosecution was justified, the public deserves as much explanation as the law permits.
The records currently available do not prove homicide, misconduct by a specific official or the present status of any investigation.
What they show is that serious questions remain unanswered.
Evelynn deserves a complete and truthful account of her final days, the response to the concerns raised and every decision made afterward. Nearly two years later, her community deserves those answers too.
