A coroner’s report in the death of a 15-month-old Clearwater boy reveals several potentially life-threatening incidents, frequent hospitalizations and concerns about the care he received before his August 2025 death, which investigators are now reexamining as a homicide.
Shanna Kay Whitton of Clearwater was charged earlier this week with first-degree felony murder, in addition to other counts related to child abuse and arson.
Matthew died from complications of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy — brain damage caused by lack of oxygen or blood — resulting from an “intentionally inflicted asphyxial event,” according to his autopsy…