Months of abuse and chilling text messages: A blow-by-blow account on Singapore baby Trevor Neo’s death

Trevor Neo, an eight-month-old baby, died in September 2024 after enduring months of abuse at the hands of his parents, Neo Jia Ming and Chloe Gan Ci Xuan. The Singapore High Court sentenced Neo to 16 years in prison and Gan to 15 years and three months in October 2026, after they pleaded guilty to charges of causing his death and ill-treatment. The abuse began early in Trevor's life, with the first hospital visit occurring just one month after his birth.

In January 2024, when Trevor was just a month old, he lost consciousness after his mother shook him. Despite scans, X-rays, and examinations finding no injuries, the couple continued to abuse him. In March 2024, Neo slapped Trevor, leaving bruises on his face and later joked about the incident in texts, falsely claiming the baby had dropped a phone on himself. These texts demonstrated a callous disregard for the severity of their actions.

Trevor's condition worsened in April 2024. His father would cover his nose and mouth daily to stop his crying, while his mother did the same. Gan's mother, noticing bruises on Trevor, warned her daughter not to hit him again, but she ignored the advice. The abuse continued, escalating until the tragic night of September 1, 2024.

On that fatal night, Gan repeatedly pressed a blanket and her hands over Trevor's face, smothering him and leaving him face down in his cot. His father, Neo, who was in the same room playing a game on his mobile phone, did not intervene when he found the baby not breathing. He instructed Gan to book a taxi instead of calling an ambulance. Trevor was pronounced dead at the hospital around 12:20 am.

The autopsy could not determine a definitive cause of death, leaving many questions unanswered. The couple was arrested shortly after, and their guilty pleas were accepted by the court. The judge, Justice Hoo Sheau Peng, emphasized the severity of their actions, stating that they must be held fully accountable for their cruel acts despite their youth and inexperience. The court also noted that Neo had no mental illness, while Gan may have had a slight adjustment disorder contributing to her behavior.