By Shavonne Potts

Salisbury Post

A Rowan County Department of Social Services investigation continues into the death of a 7-day-old Rockwell infant.

The baby, Tanner Chapman, was released from NorthEast on Dec. 5, and two days later, the boy was found dead in his home.

Tanner’s parents, Bryant Chapman and Amber Revis, both of 134 Wingate Lane, Rockwell, were indicted Tuesday on a charge of involuntary manslaughter. Rowan County Sheriff’s deputies arrested them Wednesday.

Social Services placed a primary caretaker, a relative of the father’s, to watch over the infant.

Barbara Sharpe, a program administrator with Social Services’ Children’s Services Division, said when the investigation is closed they’ll determine what responsibility the caretaker had.

“We’ll consider whether or not to substantiate neglect on that person,” Sharpe said.

Social Services was called from the NorthEast Medical Center in Concord, where Tanner was born to investigate because he was born with drugs in his system.

They thought two other children who lived at the Rockwell home could be at risk.

Sharpe said even if Social Services finds any wrongdoing on the caretakers part, it “doesn’t mean law enforcement would charge that person.”

Also in December, authorities charged Shannon Elizabeth Anderson, 22, of 6125 Faith Road, Salisbury, with second-degree murder in the death of Matthew Gabriel Brown, her 26-day-old son.

The Brown baby’s death occurred Nov. 30. Anderson had told the Sheriff’s Department she fell asleep on a couch with her baby, who was later found unresponsive.

Sharpe said although an infant died in this case as well they did not conduct an investigation.

Social Services officials did not pursue an investigation because there were no other children who lived in the home.

“We would have been looking at the safety and safety risk of the remaining children in home,” Sharpe said.

Autopsies were performed on both infants.

Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253 or spotts@salisburypost.com.