Isabella’s father picks her up
My RecollectionIsabella’s father picked her up from her mother’s home on Friday, February 21, 2025, at approximately 3:00 p.m.
What happened
The Documentary Timeline
What the records document, what people reported, what I remember, what is disputed, and what remains unknown.
How to read this chronology
Documented means an event or finding appears in a record. Reported means someone’s account was recorded. My Recollection identifies a personal memory. Disputed and Unknown preserve the limits of what is established.
The reported discovery
ReportedOfficer Patrick Castillo’s narrative records Dukens saying he checked on Bella at approximately 7:00 a.m., noticed she was not breathing, moved her to the floor and performed CPR while a cousin called 911. This is an approximate reported time, not an independently timed finding.
Emergency response
Documented / ReportedRandolph police dispatch lists 07:32:09. State Police describe a 911 call at approximately 7:32 a.m. and report that Bella’s father was performing CPR when responders arrived. The dispatch timestamp and the exact call start are different measurements.
Reported text and missed calls
ReportedIn her March 20 interview, Shirley reported an 8:07 a.m. text and missed calls at 8:13 and 8:21 a.m. She initially said 8:20, then corrected the second missed call to 8:21 after checking her phone.
[1] Interview transcript, pages 6–7Bella is pronounced dead
DocumentedBella was pronounced dead at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Milton on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 8:26 a.m., according to the State Police report documenting the hospital physician’s statement. This is the recorded pronouncement time; the death certificate separately lists the time of death as unknown.
[2] Hospital timeline source extractReported wake-up and response
ReportedIn her interview, Shirley said she woke around 9:30 a.m., called or texted at 9:31, and sent “I’m going now” at 9:33.
[3] Interview transcript, pages 7–8Reported hospital arrival
ReportedShirley estimated that she arrived a little before or around 10:00 a.m. The later estimate of about 10:30 a.m. refers to Rosenie arriving and joining her in the trauma room, not Shirley’s own arrival.
[4] Interview transcript, pages 9–11Autopsy performed
DocumentedThe OCME report records the examination on February 23, 2025.
[5] OCME case 2025-3197; autopsy findings summaryMeeting with investigators
Documented meeting / Reported concernsThe State Police report records a meeting arranged at the Norfolk District Attorney’s office involving Shirley, attorney Joe Lally, Renisha, Rosenie, ADA Greg Connor, Lt. John Fanning and Trooper Matthew Dunne. It records concerns and a request to revoke Dukens’s passport. The report states that no specific allegation about the cause of death was presented at that meeting.
[6] MSP February 24 meeting narrativeContact with the guardian ad litem
DocumentedState Police record contact with guardian ad litem Patricia Brady. The recorded contact is separate from any interpretation of it.
[7] MSP February 25 narrativeFundraiser creation
Archived pageThe supplied fundraiser PDF lists February 25, 2025 as the creation date on page 4, Renisha Talbot as organizer and Shirley Joseph as beneficiary on page 3, and $89,267 raised on page 1. That is a snapshot amount, not a claim about today’s total.
[8] GoFundMe fundraiser PDF, pages 1, 3–4Death certificate record date
DocumentedThe death certificate lists March 10, 2025 as the date of record.
[9] Redacted amended death certificateRequest for homicide classification
Reported requestIn her March 11, 2025 email, Shirley requested that Bella’s case be classified as a homicide investigation. A request is not a finding that a homicide occurred.
[10] Archived investigation correspondenceBella’s funeral
Her father’s accountBella’s funeral was held at Jubilee Church. Her father’s letter describes his experience of saying goodbye.
[11] Letter to the Pastor of Jubilee ChurchRecorded interview
DocumentedShirley’s interview was recorded. Its contents remain her reported account where not independently established.
[12] Redacted interview transcriptRequest for tetrodotoxin testing
Reported requestIn her April 27, 2025 correspondence, Shirley requested tetrodotoxin (TTX) testing. A request to test for a substance is not a positive test result.
[13] Archived investigation correspondenceAutopsy final report signed
DocumentedThe final report was signed on June 26, 2025. Its manner-of-death classification remained undetermined.
[14] OCME case 2025-3197; findings summaryDeath certificate certification
DocumentedThe supplied amended certificate records certification on July 3, 2025.
[15] Redacted amended death certificateWhat remains to be matched
The exact 911 call start, verified phone logs, trust transactions, campaign and WBZ appearance dates, and later court events require their precise source records. They have not been assigned dates here without that match.
Bella gets the last word
“It’s easy, Babe. Let me show you.”
Her voice. Her spirit. Always remembered.