An infant, nearly a month old, has died at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, following an incident where she was pulled from her crib due to a nurse inadvertently taking monitoring equipment cords in her pocket, as reported by the Franklin County Coroner’s Office.
Ellieana Jewel Peyton, born on March 4, 2025, to parents Tyler Peyton and Mackenzie Marshall of Zanesville, Ohio, had congenital dilated cardiomyopathy. This heart condition impacted the left side of her heart, making it smaller than normal. Despite her condition, Ellieana showed progress in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit and was due to be discharged on March 28, 2025.
The event took place on March 26, 2025, while her parents were briefly away from the hospital. A GoFundMe page created by family friend Stella Dunlap stated that the parents were informed via phone that their child had fallen. The page detailed that hospital staff said the nurse had kept the baby’s monitor cords in her pocket, causing the infant to be dragged from her NICU crib.
The accident led to Ellieana sustaining a fractured skull and brain bleeding. She remained hospitalized for five more days before passing away on March 31, 2025.
An autopsy report from the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, released on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, concluded that Ellieana’s death was due to a congenital heart defect, exacerbated by blunt force head trauma. The death was ruled accidental, with the injuries resulting from a fall from a crib.
Mackenzie Peyton shared with reporters, “the pain of losing” her daughter persists, and the family has experienced both good and bad days.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital did not provide specific details about the incident, citing patient privacy policies, and stated they could not disclose information about individual patients.
The hospital’s NICU guidelines allow parents 24-hour access to their children and require healthcare teams to follow strict safety protocols, emphasizing hand hygiene, restrictions on personal items in patient areas, and preventing electronic interference with medical equipment.
Despite her heart condition, Ellieana had been meeting developmental milestones during her time in the NICU. Her cardiomyopathy required ongoing monitoring but was not deemed immediately life-threatening at the time of the incident.
Family members described Ellieana as having an engaging smile and beautiful brown eyes. Her obituary noted she was particularly alert and responsive to her parents’ voices, often searching for them when she heard them nearby. Her preferred place was in the arms of her family.
Funeral services took place on April 5, 2025, at First Church of God in Zanesville, Ohio, officiated by Pastor Nehemiah Gaiters. Calling hours were held before the 1 p.m. service, followed by cremation. DeLong-Baker & Lanning Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.
The GoFundMe campaign, set up to assist the family with medical expenses and time away from work, highlighted the parents’ fears about leaving their child’s side after the incident.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital operates a Level IV NICU, providing the highest level of care for critically ill newborns with complex medical issues. The facility is staffed by specialized medical professionals who offer continuous monitoring and care for vulnerable patients.
The Franklin County Coroner’s Office investigation determined the incident was accidental, not due to negligence or intentional harm. The official findings have concluded the case, while the family continues to mourn their loss.
