1 Day Before Delco Parents Killed Their Toddler, Child Services Saw Signs Of Abuse: Docs

Editor's note: This article contains profanity and descriptions of child abuse.

CHESTER, PA — A Children and Youth Services (CYS) worker observed signs that a toddler suffered physical abuse. One day later, the abuse became deadly, according to court documents.

Two parents in Chester were recently charged with murder in the death of their 1-year-old son. After Cynthia Robinson beat her son, she and Frank Walton Sr. prevented him from getting life-saving medical care, according to the Delaware County District Attorney's Office.

Related coverage:

• Delco Mom Beat Her Toddler To Death; Father Prevented Medical Care: Authorities
• Delco Parents Accused Of Killing Their Toddler Denied Bail

Robinson, 33, and Walton, 57, were charged in the case on Wednesday. They were placed in the Delaware County Prison and denied bail.

The victim, Frank Walton Jr., was pronounced dead at the hospital on Nov. 5. Based off his cold body temperature, investigators believe he may have died well-before his parents called 911 and claimed a sibling pushed him down the stairs.

If he received medical care right after his mother beat him earlier that day, he could have survived, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

The affidavits outline an alleged history of child abuse and run-ins with CYS that began years before Frank Jr.'s short life.

Robinson had a prior conviction involving drug use around children. While she was on supervision for that offense, Frank Jr. was born addicted to cocaine and fentanyl and placed in foster care for a few months.

But from then on, Walton and Robinson had custody of all four children, despite signs of abuse thereafter, according to the affidavits.

Here's what investigators said in court documents:

Mother's Legal Troubles

Robinson and Walton parented four children ranging from 1 to 6 years old. Frank Jr., born March 2024, was their second-youngest.

Police were called to their home in February 2023, when Robinson suffered a suspected overdose. She regained consciousness after medics administered Narcan.

Robinson's two children were sleeping on the floor nearby. When the children moved, medics found a crack pipe.

Walton was there, but he didn't identify himself as the father of the children.

Delaware County CYS began an investigation that day, and the children were placed in a relative's care.

A month later, Robinson was charged with felony endangering the welfare of children. She was later convicted and placed on supervision.

Frank Jr.'s Birth

While on supervision, Robinson became pregnant with Walton's child.

On Feb. 10, 2024, Frank Jr. was born prematurely at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, where he tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl. As a result, CYS placed Frank Jr. into foster care a few weeks later.

CYS administered a drug test on Robinson that June, which came back positive for cocaine.

In February 2025, Robinson and Walton moved into transitional housing in Chester. At the time, Robinson was seven months pregnant with her and Walton's youngest child.

During CYS's announced home visit one week later, the couple's two eldest kids were present, violating an agreement for relatives to care for them. Despite this, CYS left the children in their parents' care.

Their youngest child was born that April.

A court order returned Frank Jr. to his parents' care on May 7. Investigators believe Robinson and Walton had custody of all four children between that date and Frank Jr.'s death.

No other details about the court order were disclosed. Spokespersons for the Delaware County District Attorney's office and the county government, which oversees CYS, said they couldn't share more info on the matter.

Children Blamed For Abuse

Authorities were dispatched to the family's home Oct. 11 for a report of a child having seizures. Chester Police Cpt. William Carey arrived with medics and noticed another child with two black eyes.

When asked about the child's bruises, Robinson said, "He has black eyes from her, she beats him up" and pointed to her 2-year-old who was lying on the floor after suffering the apparent seizure.

On Nov. 4 — the day before Frank Jr. died — a witness noticed the child bleeding from his nose. The witness heard Robinson say, "Fuck this little bitch, I'm going to hit him now, I'm tired of this little bitch ass kid."

The witness — identified as "Witness #1" in the affidavit — threatened to call CYS to report the abuse, but Robinson begged him not to.

A CYS transitional housing caseworker came over that day and observed discoloration under Frank Jr.'s eye. Robinson told the caseworker that Frank Jr. walked into a coffee table.

Fatal Beating, Cover-Up

Investigators believe Robinson gravely injured her son between 3 and 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5.

Walton was away from home with Witness #1 and the eldest child, pickup up another child from school.

Robinson called Walton three times in seven minutes. Walton answered his phone on the third attempt, at 3:42 p.m., when Robinson claimed their child pushed Frank Jr. down the stairs.

But the child who Robinson blamed was with Walton.

Walton returned home later that afternoon, and Robinson told him to call 911. But Walton declined and said Frank Jr. looked fine.

That night, Walton noticed Frank Jr. wasn't breathing, which prompted Robinson to call 911 at 10:56 p.m. — at least seven hours after she injured him.

Authorities found the small child in cardiac arrest with possible head trauma. A medic in the ambulance noticed Frank Jr.'s body was cool to touch and showed no signs of rigor, meaning he may been dead for some time before 911 was called.

He was pronounced dead at Nemours Children's Hospital, where his body temperature registered at 86.2 degrees upon arrival.

The Death Investigation

Robinson had told police and medical personnel that one of her children pushed Frank Jr. down the stairs. But the autopsy results told a different story.

The autopsy showed blunt force trauma throughout Frank Jr.'s head and body, which was too severe for a small child to cause and inconsistent with the timeline Robinson provided.

Medical Examiner Dr. Gary Collins concluded that Frank Jr. died from blunt force trauma and ruled it a homicide. If Frank Jr. received medical attention immediately after suffering his injuries, he may have survived, Collins said.

On Nov. 6, the remaining children were brought to the hospital for medical evaluations. Authorities executed a search warrant at their home and found blood stains, a pipe, and a bag of cocaine, which was hidden inside a box of Mott's fruit snacks.

Two of the children tested positive for cocaine, and all were "found to be unkempt, with soiled clothing and were overall dirty," the affidavit says.

Officials didn't say how much longer Robinson and Walton retained custody over their children. But on Nov. 8, their eldest was interviewed at a Children's Advocacy Center.

The child said Robinson would spank her when she got in trouble, and she witnessed her mother strike Frank Jr. on the hand. Robinson advised her to never talk about what happened at home and to keep secrets about "Junior," her brother.

She said that on the day her brother died, she came home from school and saw him on the couch with his eyes closed.

Witness #1 told detectives he previously saw Robinson hit her children. He also once saw Robinson drag Frank Jr. down the steps by his shirt before she dropped the victim onto the floor from the height of her waist.

Another witness — "Witness #2" — told detectives he saw Robinson hit and punch her daughter in late 2022 or early 2023, when the family lived at a different home in Chester.

Witness #2 removed the child from the room to protect her. Robinson then tried to hit the witness as she held Robinson's other daughter.

The witness told Walton about the abuse, and the father said he'd sometimes tell Robinson to stop hitting their child.

Charges Filed, Questions Remain

Robinson was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder. Both parents were charged with third-degree murder, third-degree conspiracy to commit murder and other offenses related to child abuse.

They're set to return to court April 28 for preliminary hearings.

Neither defendant has a listed attorney for Patch to contact for comment at this time.

The events also raise questions about Pennsylvania's child-welfare system, which is county-administered but overseen by the state's Department of Human Services.

Patch contacted Delaware County CYS with questions about multiple events described in the affidavit.

A county spokesperson emailed Patch a statement on the agency's behalf: "The loss of any life is deeply saddening to the County, especially the loss of one as young as Frank Walton Jr.'s. Our most heartfelt thoughts remain with his loved ones at this time. While we cannot comment on active cases, the County's CYS intend to fully cooperate with the District Attorney's investigation."