More than eight years after the tragic death of 16-month-old Rhythm Fields, justice has finally been served. A Washington, D.C. jury has found her mother, Faneshia Scott, guilty of felony murder and cruelty to children following a harrowing investigation and trial that uncovered a disturbing pattern of abuse.
Rhythm was found cold and unresponsive in a playpen at her mother’s D.C. apartment on March 21, 2017. A friend of Scott’s had stopped by with her own child for a playdate, only to discover the toddler lifeless. In a desperate attempt to save her, the friend flagged down a mail carrier, who immediately called 911 and attempted CPR.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, “The child’s body was cold, her body was stiff, and her eyes were fixed. While on the phone with 911, the mail carrier followed the operator’s instructions when two other individuals entered the residence to administer CPR — one was an experienced former firefighter and knew that the child was dead immediately upon seeing her.”
First responders were taken aback when Scott claimed she hadn’t checked on Rhythm since 9:00 a.m. that morning. The toddler was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy by the D.C. Medical Examiner’s Office revealed a devastating series of injuries.
Rhythm had suffered multiple blunt force traumas, including contusions and abrasions across her head, neck, torso, and limbs. The report also detailed a subdural hemorrhage, cerebral and subarachnoid bleeding, acute brain injury, and numerous rib fractures. Retinal and optic nerve hemorrhages further indicated severe abuse.
Prosecutors presented a chilling timeline, alleging that Scott had subjected Rhythm and her siblings to prolonged abuse. Witnesses testified that Scott, a mother of three, regularly beat her children. On March 20, 2017, the day before Rhythm’s death, Scott allegedly shook her violently in an attempt to stop her from crying.
Despite the overwhelming medical evidence, Scott’s defense attorney, Steven Kiersh, argued that the rib fractures could have been caused by CPR. “The law that you have to follow is not an emotional law,” he told jurors. However, the jury was unconvinced.
After years of investigation and emotional courtroom testimony, the jury delivered its verdict: guilty on all counts. The Honorable Judge Jason Park has set sentencing for August 29, 2025. Under D.C. law, Faneshia Scott faces the possibility of spending the rest of her life in prison.
Rhythm’s tragic death now stands as a haunting reminder of the silent suffering some children endure—and the justice that, even delayed, can finally be delivered.