Rhythm Fields wasn’t even 2 years old when she was found cold and lifeless inside a playpen at her mother Faneshia Scott’s Washington, DC, apartment. A friend of Scott’s stopped by on March 21, 2017, with her child who wanted to play with the toddler. They soon found Rhythm unresponsive and Scott’s friend frantically flagged down a mail carrier who called 911 and tried to help. Tragically, it was too late. Rhythm was gone.
According to a press release from the US Attorney’s Office 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.”
The statement continued, “First responders were surprised to learn that the defendant claimed to have no contact with the child since 9:00 a.m. that morning. The child was pronounced dead.”
Later, the DC Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy and ruled Rhythm had died from multiple blunt force injuries. The 16-month-old child had contusions and abrasions on her head, neck, torso, and extremities. She also suffered a subdural hemorrhage, cerebral edema, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and acute hypoxia-ischemia. In addition, the autopsy noted a retinal and optic nerve sheath hemorrhage and multiple rib fractures.
Per the D.C. Witness news website, prosecutors presented a months-long timeline of alleged abuse against Rhythm at the hands of her mother. Scott, a mother of three, allegedly beat her children, according to witnesses. Prosecutors claimed Scott violently shook Rhythm on March 20, 2017, to stop her from crying. A witness alleged the child looked unwell at the time. The next day, witnesses found Rhythm dead.
According to D.C. Witness, Scott’s attorney Steven Kiersh tried to convince jurors that CPR caused the rib fractures. He didn’t feel that the prosecutors had enough evidence to prove his client killed her daughter. Kiersh reportedly told the jury, “The law that you have to follow is not an emotional law.” But his plea was unsuccessful.
It took more than eight years, but a jury found Scott guilty of felony murder and cruelty to children. Following the jury’s conviction, the Honorable Jason Park has scheduled Scott’s sentencing for August 29, 2025. Under District of Columbia Law, Scott could spend the rest of her life in prison.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child), or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
