Re: criminally negligent homicide? wrongful death?PS

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A little more explanation: a statute is a law passed by the
state legislature. That is what is needed to make an act
criminal. An example of criminally negligent homicide would
be playing Russian roullette, driving drunk and killing
someone in an accident, recklessly setting a fire where a
firefighter dies. Wrongful death would be medical
malpractice, an auto accident that did not involve a criminal
act. However, both of your questions require the actor to do
something or have some sort of duty to the deceased. A parent
who doesn't help their child on the other hand, could be
charged with criminally negligent homicide because they have a
statutory (that means a law says it) duty to care for the
child and protect it. A sibling would have no such duty, nor
would a child have a duty to the parent as a rule. (there are
exceptions for elderly and disabled parents.) There is no
criminal liability in your scenario (and probably no common
law liability either) unless there is some sort of
relationship between the parties that places that duty on them.