Inset: Enzo J. Peters (Merkle Funeral Home). Background: The area where Enzo and his mother lived in Michigan (Google Maps).
A tragic incident in Michigan has resulted in the arrest of a 36-year-old mother, accused of causing the death of her young son. Coralan Kaye-Elizabeth Peters is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse after allegedly setting her thermostat to a scorching 90 degrees and directing a space heater toward her 1-year-old son, Enzo James Peters, while he was in his crib.
The arrest came earlier this month when deputies took Peters into custody. Court documents detail her charges, which stem from the unfortunate demise of her son, Enzo. The Monroe News reported that emergency services responded to a 911 call from Peters’ residence on the 1000 block of East Sixth Street at approximately 9:48 a.m., following reports of a deceased child. Upon arrival, first responders discovered the toddler unresponsive in his crib and sadly pronounced him dead at the scene.
Prosecutors have accused Peters of subjecting her 19-month-old son to dangerously high temperatures, which they claim resulted in his death. This assertion is detailed in court documents alleging the exposure to “an unsafe level of heat.”
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Enzo’s passing took several weeks before authorities apprehended Peters on February 2. She subsequently appeared in court on February 4, where Monroe County District Judge Christian J. Horkey set her bond at $750,000.
Further insights into the events leading up to the tragic incident were provided by a police report obtained by Toledo CBS affiliate WTOL. The report sheds additional light on the extreme heat conditions inside the home that may have contributed to the child’s death.
A police report obtained by Toledo CBS affiliate WTOL provided some additional information about the events preceding the boy’s death.
Police at the scene reportedly noted that the inside of Peters’ home was very warm, with the heat set to 90 degrees. The bedroom where the child was found was especially hot due to multiple vents blowing hot air into the room.
In addition to the thermostat, investigators reportedly said that Peters had positioned a portable space heater in the room and had it turned to high and pointed directly at the boy’s crib. Investigators used the same make and model space heater to conduct a test, turning it to the highest setting and facing it at a crib. The inside of the crib reportedly got as hot as the mid-90s.
Authorities further noted that the home itself was in deplorable condition, reportedly finding garbage, rotting food, and dirty diapers throughout the inside.
A rough timeline showed that Enzo was put to bed at about 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 22, 2025. When someone checked on the toddler at about 2 a.m., he reportedly woke up briefly before going back to sleep. Someone in the house checked on him again at about 9:45 a.m. and found him unresponsive, WTOL reported.
A subsequent autopsy conducted by the Lucas County Coroner’s Office reportedly found that Enzo had internal and external signs indicating he suffered from a “heat-related injury” and dehydration. There was no evidence the boy suffered any blunt force trauma. A determination on the manner and cause of death remains pending as investigators await laboratory results.
Peters is currently scheduled to appear in court again on the afternoon of Feb. 19 for a probable cause conference, records show.
