Jaded Evidence · Interactive Investigation Case File
Frank Rodenbaugh / Aimee Cotton prosecution
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts · Updated October 26, 2026
Current status: Aimee Cotton pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and reckless endangerment of a child.
Case file contents
Overview
Two-year-old Frank “Frankie” Rodenbaugh died in March 2025 after prosecutors say caregiver Aimee Cotton left him restrained in an SUV outside her Oak Bluffs home for hours. Cotton was first charged with manslaughter and later indicted for second-degree murder. She pleaded not guilty at an October 8, 2026 Superior Court arraignment.
Verified timeline
- March 13, 2025 — Prosecutors allege Frankie was left in the vehicle for several hours and later found unresponsive.
- March 2025 — He died after nearly a week in intensive care.
- August 2026 — A grand jury returned a second-degree murder charge.
- October 8 — Cotton pleaded not guilty to murder and reckless endangerment.
Evidence and source review
What the reviewed record supports
Reported evidence includes exterior surveillance video, the time Cotton allegedly spent inside the home and medical findings concerning hypothermia and cardiac arrest. The prosecution must prove causation and the mental state required for murder; Cotton denies guilt.
What this page does not treat as established
Unproven allegations, disputed witness accounts, inferred motives and incomplete forensic findings are labeled and are not presented as court findings.
Legal status
Aimee Cotton pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and reckless endangerment of a child.
Unless a final adjudication is stated, every accused person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Open questions
What does the complete video and device evidence establish about timing? What do the medical experts conclude about exposure, survivability and cause of death? What is the discovery and trial schedule?
Sources reviewed
- [1] Martha’s Vineyard Times — October 8 arraignment
- [2] Vineyard Gazette — plea and allegations
- [3] CBS Boston — earlier manslaughter case
Links were checked during the October 26, 2026 review. Source descriptions identify the reporting or record used; they do not convert an allegation into a fact.
Outstanding records and follow-up
Records still needed
Superior Court indictment and docket; bail order; complete surveillance; medical and autopsy records; expert disclosures; related civil filings only when relevant and properly sourced.
Update standard
Future updates should distinguish original records, agency statements, witness accounts, prosecutor allegations, defense positions, expert conclusions and court findings.