Wrongful death lawsuit names CYFD, foster parent

An amended lawsuit brings on new accusations in the 2017 death of a baby girl in the care of a state-licensed foster parent.

CYFD, social workers, supervisors, and an office manager are now named as defendants in the lawsuit against Stephanie Crownover, a foster mom accused in the December 2017 death of Ariza Barreras in Valencia County.

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CYFD and foster parent sued over baby’s death

The state Children, Youth and Families Department and several of its employees, supervisors and an approved foster parent have been named in a lawsuit alleging, among other things, the wrongful death of a child in December 2017.

The lawsuit also alleges negligence and causing the “physical injury, pain and severe emotional distress” of the deceased child’s two siblings.

More >> CYFD and foster parent sued over baby’s death

After a False Accusation, Police and Child Services Forced a Family Apart for 7 Months

Adam Lowther was a busy man, traveling constantly for his work as director of the Air Force's Advanced Nuclear Deterrence Studies. But on the afternoon of August 30, 2017, he called his wife, Jessica, with good news: He would be home in time to take their two children—ages 4 and 7—to tae kwon do practice.

Little did Adam know that he was about to be forcibly separated from his children for half a year, and would spend more than $300,000 in legal bills trying to reunite his family after it was torn apart by the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) on the basis of a false sexual abuse accusation. Now Adam and his wife are suing the police and child services officials for violating their rights, misleading other authorities about the merits of the case against them, and traumatizing their children.

More >> After a False Accusation, Police and Child Services Forced a Family Apart for 7 Months

Callers reporting long wait times on CYFD child abuse hotline

Some people are experiencing long hold times before they are able to report child abuse.

The statewide intake center allows New Mexicans to call #SAFE from a cell phone, and talk to someone at CYFD about possible child abuse.

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Foster parent arrested in undercover sex sting to remain in jail

New details have emerged in the case involving a foster parent who was arrested in an undercover sex sting. Reports say the foster child living in that home will not be removed.

According to the Albuquerque Journal, CYFD stated that Joshua Saavedra will no longer be living in the house. Saavedra is in jail where he is facing several charges.

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Foster parent accused of trying to meet child for sex after chatting online

Special agents with the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General arrested Joshua Saavedra Wednesday.

While conducting an undercover chat operation, agents said Saavedra agreed to meet up with the fictional child for sex.

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Legal expert: What to do if your child's well-being is at risk in foster care

A six-month-old boy died Thursday under the care of a foster parent with CYFD. The parents of the baby, Monique Romero and David Zuber, lost custody of two children when their 1-year-old Anastazia Zuber was found buried in the backyard of a northeast Albuquerque home in January. Now, there is one child left in CYFD’s custody.

Romero did report concern’s for her baby’s health to CYFD.

More >> Legal expert: What to do if your child's well-being is at risk in foster care

Albuquerque couple blames CYFD for death of baby in foster care

An Albuquerque couple is speaking out after their baby died while in CYFD custody this week.

It's the same couple accused of burying their drowned 1-year-old daughter in a shallow grave.

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Questa man indicted on child sex abuse charges was foster parent

Desiree Terry remembers the pain of being pulled through the foster care system as a child in New Mexico. Her parents struggled with drug abuse and spent years in and out prison, so she was sent to live with her grandparents, who loved her and kept her safe. Her childhood was set on a stable course. The system had worked as intended.

Now more than ever, she knows that she was one of the lucky ones.

More >> Questa man indicted on child sex abuse charges was foster parent

Baby dies in foster care in Albuquerque after death of sibling

New Mexico authorities are investigating after an infant died while in the custody of a foster family that was caring for the child following the arrest of his parents on charges related to the death of one of their other children.

Albuquerque police responded Thursday after the boy was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

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Foster parent convicted of rape sentenced to probation

A New Mexico foster parent convicted on six counts of rape will not serve any time in prison.

Manual Preciado, 64, was arrested in 2015 after a teenage boy came forward saying Preciado raped and molested him while he stayed in his Tucumcari home. According to court documents, the boy was attacked on a nearly daily basis over nine months.

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Foster parent convicted of rape sentenced to probation

A New Mexico foster parent convicted on six counts of rape will not serve any time in prison.

Manual Preciado, 64, was arrested in 2015 after a teenage boy came forward saying Preciado raped and molested him while he stayed in his Tucumcari home. According to court documents, the boy was attacked on a nearly daily basis over nine months.

More >> Foster parent convicted of rape sentenced to probation

Bill in New Mexico Legislature would create databank to track children’s welfare

After years of hand-wringing over worst-in-the-nation poverty levels and education rankings, reports repeatedly declaring New Mexico “the worst place to raise a family,” a persistent opioid epidemic and a rising prison population, policymakers are pushing legislation they say will finally lead to solutions.

Without the Child and Family Databank Act, one researcher said, the state won’t ever be able to solve its woes, largely rooted in multigenerational poverty.

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Abuse suspect to remain free before trial

A former foster parent accused of sexually abusing multiple young girls under his care will remain out of custody as he awaits what could be several trials.

Clarence Garcia, 65, is facing 13 felony charges tied to incidents that took place over a span of six years and involved six children, according to court documents.

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Children taken away from family caregiver, placed with foster parents

An Albuquerque woman and her family are working through the heartache of not having their niece and nephew around.

Caseworkers from CYFD took them from April Olivas last week. That came as a surprise for Olivas since she had been watching her young niece and nephew throughout the past year.

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District court judge arrested for DWI

A district court judge, Deborah Walker, was arrested Wednesday night for DWI.

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Former foster parent charged with raping six girls

A man is facing charges for allegedly sexually abusing girls in foster care.

Back in August, KRQE News 13 reported on claims that Clarence Garcia's foster daughters, some as young as 6, came forward through the years to report him, but nothing was done.

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NM foster care company shutting down following reports of safety lapses

La Familia-Namaste, one of New Mexico’s largest private foster care companies, is closing its doors at the end of the year.

The closure comes on the heels of an investigation by Searchlight New Mexico revealing that the 30-year-old nonprofit failed to properly vet foster parents for past abusive behavior, placing children in environments that in some cases have led to severe child abuse.

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Foster caregivers named in wrongful death suit

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in Bernalillo County District Court in the death of 4-month-old Savanna Smith.

Savanna was in foster care under the supervision of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department at the time of her death on June 2, 2017.

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Sexual abuse claims lead to lawsuit against CYFD, Familyworks

CYFD and a foster care agency have been hit with a lawsuit following claims that a foster parent was molesting girls in his care.

Back in August, KRQE News 13 reported on Special Assignment about claims a foster parent had been sexually abusing girls in his care for almost 20 years.

More >> Sexual abuse claims lead to lawsuit against CYFD, Familyworks