A single death is a tragedy

When we consider public records, we want to consider two levels:

•   The individual level
•   The population level  

The population data will help us understand the scope and context of an issue or trend. The individual stories will help us understand on a personal level the impacts of an issue or trend.

At the time of his autopsy last January (2005), tiny Tyler DeLeon weighed precisely as much as he had three years earlier: 28 pounds.

For months at a time, the 7-year-old foster child’s weight remained flat, or barely changed.

His death – and the months-long criminal investigation that has followed – raise a perplexing question: Why was Tyler DeLeon so small?

Here's the fatality review of the death of a Pullman infant: https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/reports/ecfr-cb15.pdf

Here's media coverage of his father's conviction: https://dnews.com/local/tot-s-father-guilty-of-manslaughter/article_dc08ddad-c9b1-5da1-a5c0-d93daa976455.html

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Today, we'll look at specific stories that use public documents. The life and death of Tyler DeLeon, a tragedy that resulted in dozens of stories, public outcry and finally a criminal trial, is one of these.