Four Days After Being Taken to Daycare, Baby Kashan’s Life Was Lost — The Case That Shocked Ohio

On October 9, 2023, a normal morning for a family in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, turned into a heartbreaking nightmare when five-month-old Kashan Roman Crawford-Chatman was taken to a private home daycare and would never return home the same way.

Kashan was described by his mother as a happy, smiling baby who brought joy to everyone around him, and that morning he was dropped off at the daycare operated by Tammra Straughter, 54, alongside his twin brother.

According to investigators, Straughter was the only caregiver responsible for Kashan, his twin sibling, and six other children inside the private daycare that day.

Hours later, emergency responders were called to the Reynoldsburg home after receiving reports that a five-month-old baby was not breathing properly.

When police officers and medical workers arrived, Kashan was still breathing, and initial observations suggested that he appeared to be in a stable condition.

However, after Kashan was returned to his mother, she immediately became concerned and brought him to an urgent care facility for medical attention.

The baby was then placed in an ambulance and transported toward a children’s hospital, but the situation quickly became more serious when Kashan suffered cardiac arrest during the journey.

Medical teams worked for approximately 45 minutes attempting to stabilize the infant before doctors discovered the severity of his condition.

Doctors determined that Kashan had suffered severe physical injuries consistent with abuse, including a traumatic brain injury that would eventually lead to devastating consequences.

Prosecutors later revealed that medical examinations showed extensive internal injuries, including severe brain swelling, bleeding, jaw fractures, eye injuries, lung damage, and bruising across multiple areas of his small body.

A deputy medical examiner reportedly described Kashan’s brain swelling as among the most severe cases he had ever witnessed and stated that the injuries were consistent with violent shaking.

As Kashan’s condition continued to worsen, he suffered seizures and eventually became brain ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.

Four days after being taken to daycare, on October 13, 2023, Kashan Roman Crawford-Chatman pᴀssed away.

His death was officially ruled a homicide, with the cause of death determined to be a fatal head injury caused by violent trauma.

For Kashan’s family, the loss was unimaginable because they had only wanted to provide a safe environment for their child while they worked and cared for their family.

Instead, they were left facing a tragedy that no parent should ever experience — saying goodbye to a baby who had only lived for five months.

Investigators questioned Tammra Straughter about what happened inside the daycare that day, and she provided an explanation that Kashan had become upset, later appeared to choke, and that she attempted to help him.

Straughter told authorities that Kashan arrived at her home healthy, uninjured, and smiling before his condition suddenly changed.

She claimed that the baby had been crying throughout the day and that she had frequently held him before placing him on his back on the floor while ᴀssisting another child.

According to her statement, when she returned, Kashan appeared to have vomited and was struggling, leading her to attempt first aid before calling 911.

However, investigators later uncovered evidence that raised further questions about her account of what happened inside the home.

Authorities searched Straughter’s phone and reportedly recovered deleted messages in which she expressed frustration about caring for the twins and dealing with their crying.

Investigators also discovered that previous concerns had reportedly been raised involving Straughter’s daycare after a separate report related to another child who allegedly had bruising near the eye.

During earlier court proceedings, prosecutors said Straughter initially claimed there was no recording footage from inside the daycare.

However, investigators later obtained video evidence through a search warrant, which allegedly showed Kashan appearing healthy earlier in the day before his condition changed.

The discovery became a major part of the investigation as authorities continued examining what happened during the hours Kashan was under Straughter’s care.

In February 2024, Tammra Straughter was officially charged with murder and child endangerment in connection with Kashan’s death.

Straughter pleaded not guilty and chose to take the case to trial as the legal process continued for more than two years.

On August 20, 2026, a jury found Tammra Straughter guilty of murder and child endangerment, bringing a major development in the case that had deeply affected the Reynoldsburg community.

The verdict represented a moment of accountability for Kashan’s family, but it could never undo the pain caused by losing a child who had only just begun his life.

Behind the courtroom proceedings was the story of a little boy remembered not for the tragedy surrounding his final days, but for the happiness he brought during his short life.

Kashan was a son, a twin brother, and a beloved child whose smile represented hope and love to his family.

His story has become a painful reminder of the responsibility placed on those trusted to care for children when parents are not present.

Families depend on childcare providers to protect their children, comfort them, and provide a safe environment where they can grow.

The loss of Kashan has left lasting questions about trust, responsibility, and how such a tragedy could happen to a child who was simply placed in someone else’s care.

While the court has reached a decision, Kashan’s family continues to carry the emotional weight of losing him.

No verdict can replace the moments they will never have, the milestones he will never reach, or the memories they hoped to create together.

Kashan’s life lasted only five months, but his story continues to be remembered by those who believe every child deserves safety, love, and protection.

The case of Kashan Roman Crawford-Chatman remains one of the most heartbreaking tragedies in Ohio, leaving behind a grieving family and a community searching for answers.

As the legal process moves toward sentencing, the focus remains on remembering Kashan — a baby whose life was short, but whose impact will never be forgotten.