Gavin Peterson was a 12-year-old male who died Tuesday, July 9, 2024. In cases that involve a child fatality or near-fatality because of abuse or neglect, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) allows the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) to release a summary of the division’s involvement with the victim once the investigation is finished. This is referred to as a CAPTA statement. The information contained in this summary is specific to the abuse or neglect relevant to the fatality of Gavin Peterson.
Gavin came from a two-household family and was residing with his biological father, Shane Peterson, and father’s long-term girlfriend, Nichole Scott, at the time of his death. Although there was a complicated family history, and the division worked with each household at several points in Gavin’s life as early as 2013, the information outlined in this statement only includes information relevant to Gavin in the household where his death occurred.
On May 28, 2019, a DCFS intake worker received the first report of suspected child abuse and neglect in the Peterson home. The allegations met the criteria required by Utah state law to open a DCFS investigation. During this investigation, DCFS determined Nichole Scott, living in the home at the time, had physically abused a child in the home. DCFS determined Gavin was not a victim in this case. The Peterson family accepted voluntary in-home services. After receiving 1 month of services, DCFS reviewed the safety concerns present when voluntary in-home services began. This review showed the safety concerns had been resolved. The case was closed because there was no longer a need for further DCFS intervention.
A call to DCFS was made on February 27, 2020, with concerns about Gavin. DCFS found Gavin to be a victim of abuse and that a caregiver had failed to protect him from the abuse. This abuse occurred in another household that did not involve Shane Peterson or Nichole Scott. DCFS petitioned the Juvenile Court to address these safety issues and to support the ability of the 2 households to effectively co-parent Gavin. On May 27, 2020, the Juvenile Court ordered both households to participate in DCFS in-home services.
On August 24, 2020, while the Peterson family was receiving in-home services, DCFS received a call from someone reporting concerns about Gavin and his treatment in the Peterson home. The information did not meet the criteria required by Utah state law to open a DCFS investigation. The DCFS intake worker shared the information with the DCFS caseworker assigned to the Peterson family.
The Peterson family successfully completed their mandated in-home services on May 21, 2021. Gavin remained in the custody of his father and the in-home services case was closed by the Juvenile Court.
On September 2, 2022, approximately 16 months later, DCFS received a report from someone concerned about Gavin’s well-being, after observing some of his behaviors. This was the first call received by DCFS after the Peterson family completed services, and the Juvenile Court closed the case in May 2021. The report did not meet the criteria legally required to open a DCFS investigation. Given the previous allegations, a DCFS supervisor reviewed the information. The supervisor agreed the information provided to DCFS did not meet the criteria legally required to open an investigation.
On March 28, 2023, DCFS received a new report against the Peterson family alleging physical neglect of Gavin, and DCFS opened an investigation. DCFS received a second call reporting physical neglect against the Peterson family 2 days later on March 30, 2023. The information from the second report was added to the open DCFS investigation.
The DCFS investigator spoke separately with the people who made the reports. Neither person had additional information or concerns. Gavin was interviewed at his school without his parents, on March 31, 2023. Gavin did not disclose anything regarding abuse or neglect. The DCFS investigator visited the home on May 3, 2023, and interviewed Shane Peterson about the allegations.
While the case was still open for investigation, DCFS received a third report alleging physical abuse of Gavin, on May 8, 2023. On May 15, 2023, the DCFS investigator went to the father’s home for a second visit and interviewed all adults in the home. Gavin was interviewed for a second time during this home visit. He was interviewed outside the presence of any alleged abusers.
After the interviews and investigation, the DCFS case was closed on May 15, 2023, as “unsupported” because DCFS did not have evidence to indicate Gavin had been abused or neglected.
DCFS did not receive any additional calls or information on the Peterson family between the closure of the March 2023 case and Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
On July 9, 2024, DCFS received a report that Gavin was in the emergency room with injuries that appeared to be the result of abuse or neglect, and that he was not expected to live. Gavin tragically died later that same day.
Upon this report, DCFS opened a new investigation. The investigation concluded that Gavin was a victim of severe and chronic physical abuse and severe and chronic physical neglect by Shane Peterson, Nichole Scott, and Tyler Peterson, an adult brother who lived in the home. DCFS made a supported finding because there was a pattern of abuse that took place over the period of time DCFS did not have contact with Gavin. It was also determined that a relative living outside the Peterson home failed to protect Gavin from this abuse and neglect. DCFS made a supported finding because the relative had been in the home several times and witnessed Gavin being physically abused and neglected and did not reach out to the authorities or do anything to try and stop the abuse from continuing.
On July 17, 2024, the Weber County Sheriff’s Office arrested Shane Peterson, Nichole Scott, and Tyler Peterson. All 3 have been charged with child abuse homicide, aggravated child abuse, and endangerment of a child. Their cases are pending in the Second District Court in Ogden.
If you believe a child has been abused or neglected, Utah law requires you to immediately notify the nearest Child and Family Services office, police officer, or law enforcement agency. Our online form is available at dcfs.utah.gov or you can call 1-855-323-DCFS (3237).