FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2026
Contact: Jeremy Newman, Vice President, Family Freedom Project
Email: Jeremy.Newman@FamilyFreedomProject.org
Phone: 214-707-8445
Cook Children’s Calls CPS and Seeks Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatment On Baby Whose Family Sought Emergency Help
Fort Worth, Texas — When Tyler and Mallory’s five-month-old son Jesse began seizing, they called 911 and rushed him to Cook Children’s Hospital, desperate to save his life.
Within hours of the family’s arrival, however, Cook Children’s staff reported the parents to CPS, alleging Shaken Baby Syndrome—a diagnosis that is facing growing scrutiny from medical and legal experts nationwide. Once the allegation was made, law enforcement and CPS began interrogating the parents while their son fought for his life.
A Disputed Diagnosis
Shaken Baby Syndrome has become a highly controversial diagnosis among medical and legal professionals in recent years. Medical professionals now hotly contest whether the theory holds water scientifically. They also point out that, even if it did, one could not automatically attribute it to an act of a parent–as is commonly done by Cook Children’s and CPS.
Reuters recently reported on a ruling from the New Jersey Supreme Court barring prosecutors “from presenting expert testimony that shaking a baby can on its own cause injuries severe enough to justify bringing child abuse charges.” The court relied on rules designed to prevent prosecutions based on “junk science.” In 2013, Texas passed a Junk Science law to allow convicted individuals to seek a new trial if their conviction was based on unreliable scientific evidence.
Rapid Escalation to Life and Death
Over the following days, Jesse remained minimally responsive. His parents observed small movements they believed showed improvement, but hospital staff insisted these were only reflexes.
On January 2, family friends connected the Canadas with parent advocate Krista Mcintire, attorney Brad Scalise, and defense consultant Judy Powell—professionals who previously worked with FFP in the successful defense of another Cook Children’s case involving similar allegations.
That same day, the legal team delivered a formal letter invoking the parents’ right under a new 2025 Texas law by Rep. Lacey Hull. The new law allows families to seek an independent medical second opinion when abuse is alleged. The statute was designed to slow rushed decisions and protect families from rushed medical diagnoses and unnecessary CPS removals.
Instead, Cook Children’s pressed the parents to consent to brain-death testing and organ donation. Tyler and Mallory refused, but hospital staff informed them the next day that testing would proceed without their consent and that life support would be withdrawn if Jesse failed.
Emergency Court Intervention
On January 4, attorney Scalise, with assistance from Texas Right to Life, obtained a temporary restraining order barring Cook Children’s Hospital from conducting further brain-death testing or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment.
On January 9, the judge extended the restraining order through January 20, giving the family more time to seek outside medical review. But less than twelve hours after this court victory, Jesse suddenly declined and passed away on the evening of January 9. He was six months old.
From Medical Crisis to Legal Battle
Rather than being allowed to grieve, the Canadas now face an ongoing CPS investigation and the possibility of losing custody of their four remaining children.
“Tyler and Mallory did exactly what any parents would do—they sought help when their child was in danger,” said Jeremy Newman, Vice President of the Family Freedom Project. “Instead of compassion, they were met with accusations because of a rushed diagnosis based on hotly contested science. Now this family is fighting not only for answers about their son’s death, but for the right to keep their other children.”
FFP is working alongside the family’s legal team to defend the Canadas and ensure their children remain together.
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About Family Freedom Project
Family Freedom Project’s mission is to defend the right of parents to raise their children. Over the last decade, our team has become the recognized authority on matters of parental rights in Texas and the only organization holistically dedicated to taking on any issue that affects the right of families to raise their children. Family Freedom Project exists to ensure the rights of all families far into the future.