A summer 1996 case out of Springfield, Massachusetts involves the deaths of a mother and her toddler in an apartment. Twenty-two-month-old Destiny Smith, a Black female, was found dead from starvation and dehydration. Her mother, 20-year-old Amy Smith, was discovered naked and lifeless in a closet by a social worker.

The initial investigation led to the conviction of Amy’s ex-boyfriend, Paul Fickling. Years later, Alfred Gaynor — already serving a life term for four other murders — confessed to killing Amy and described involvement in Destiny’s death. Gaynor said Fickling and Amy argued, Fickling struck her and held her in a headlock, then Gaynor tied Amy, stuffed a sock in her mouth, and left her to die in the closet.

Gaynor’s confession was part of a broader plea arrangement that included reduced exposure for Fickling in exchange for Gaynor’s statements about other killings. Fickling ultimately pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Amy Smith’s death and involuntary manslaughter in Destiny Smith’s death and was sentenced to 19 to 20 years. Was anyone in Springfield at the time aware of signs that could have led to an earlier intervention?