Grandmother Says She Reported Abuse To Oklahoma DHS A Month Before Child's Death

The grandmother of a 3-year-old girl, who died last year after alleged abuse, said she notified DHS about the abuse, but the agency did nothing. 

On Thursday, July 25 Baylee Sowards, 23, was charged with child abuse, and Lola's mother Alexis Nicole Caplan, 25, was charged with enabling child abuse.

More >> Grandmother Says She Reported Abuse To Oklahoma DHS A Month Before Child's Death

I-Team Exclusive: Grandma calls out CPS after toddler killed

A 2-year-old child is dead, and according to a local grandmother, Child Protective Services could have protected her grandson.

“I just miss him,” said Shelby Mannino, grandmother. “I just miss him a lot.”

More >> I-Team Exclusive: Grandma calls out CPS after toddler killed

Change underway for Illinois DCFS after controversial children’s deaths

Changes are on the way for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services after recent deaths of children in their care.

Between July of 2017 and June of last year, there were 98 deaths of children in DCSF care, 34 were under the age of 3.

More >> Change underway for Illinois DCFS after controversial children’s deaths

CYFD sued after reunification attempt fails

Three siblings who had been removed from their mother amid abuse allegations have filed a lawsuit against the state’s Children, Youth and Families Department alleging they were abused by a male relative when the agency allowed them to stay with their mom on a trial basis.

Filed recently in state district court in Albuquerque by the children’s guardian ad litem, the lawsuit says all three children were physically abused by Charles Pruner, and one also suffered sexual abuse. Court documents show Pruner was criminally charged with raping the 4-year-old girl, but he was ultimately acquitted following a jury trial last spring.

More >> CYFD sued after reunification attempt fails

Mother blames CPS for Daughter's death

Video of a grieving mother is making its way around social media.

That mother said her six-year-old daughter died while in the care of Kentucky Child Protective Services.

More >> Mother blames CPS for Daughter's death

Public Guardian calls out DCFS private agency for "made-up" service

We continue our investigation into the Department of Children and Family Services as we look into facilities called Interim Care Centers.

This comes after the man appointed to protect the interest of thousands of kids in DCFS custody is calling out a DCFS private agency.

More >> Public Guardian calls out DCFS private agency for "made-up" service

Children’s tragic deaths turned the spotlight on failures at DCFS

As cases of children facing abuse and losing their lives continue to stun the public, lawmakers are looking for answers from the government agency tasked with keeping them safe: the Department of Children and Family Services.

The deaths of 17-month-old Semaj Crosby, 2-year-old Ja’hir Gibbons and 5-year-old AJ Freund brought issues at the agency to the forefront. In case after case, the children lost their lives even after DCFS had been called out help.

More >> Children’s tragic deaths turned the spotlight on failures at DCFS

'This is an egregious case': AJ Freund's estate considering lawsuit against DCFS

A McHenry County judge appointed a bank to serve as the administrator of slain child AJ Freund's estate Monday, clearing the way for a potential wrongful-death lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

AJ and his family had dozens of contacts with the state agency before the 5-year-old was found dead April 24 in a shallow grave near Woodstock, six days after his parents reported him missing.

More >> 'This is an egregious case': AJ Freund's estate considering lawsuit against DCFS

• Attorney for estate of AJ Freund suggests lawsuit is likely in beating death of 5-year-old Crystal Lake boy

Family suing DCFS in 2-year-old boy’s death

The family of a 2-year-old Chicago boy is suing a Department of Family and Children Services contractor in the boy’s beating death.

Jahir Gibbons died in March. The Cook County medical examiner’s office said he died of multiple injuries stemming from child abuse and deemed his death a homicide.

More >> Family suing DCFS in 2-year-old boy’s death

Detroit dad searching for daughters learns 1 was murdered, the other abused while under mother's care

Deonte Hill tells WXYZ his ex left with his two little girls more than a year ago. Since, he has been looking for them. He got word at times that they were in Louisiana or California. He never could get the exact location.

He now is learning that as he searched the Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services investigated numerous reports of abuse against his 4-year-old Armani Hill and her 3-year-old sister Lailah Hill.

More >> Detroit dad searching for daughters learns 1 was murdered, the other abused while under mother's care

DCFS investigator under review in AJ Freund case faced prior discipline, sits on McHenry County Board

The last child welfare investigator who made contact with Andrew “AJ” Freund before the young Crystal Lake boy was allegedly killed by his parents is a local elected official with a history of workplace complaints and a recent suspension, according to documents reviewed by the Tribune.

In one case, the investigator was disciplined for ignoring a court order to connect a family with support services, delaying help for four children in a home with a record of domestic violence and alcohol abuse, the documents show. Separately, prosecutors wrote a letter saying he failed to alert them about a mother’s heroin use and that he refused to hold a child because he was worried about bedbugs.

More >> DCFS investigator under review in AJ Freund case faced prior discipline, sits on McHenry County Board

Report: DCYF at fault for child's death

The Rhode Island Office of the Child Advocate has concluded through an extensive report released Tuesday that the Rhode Island Department of Child Youth and Families (DCYF) “created” the situation that led to the death of a 9-year-old Oakland Beach girl in January.

The child, Zah-Nae Rothgeb, was one of eight children under the supervision of one woman, Michele Rothgeb, who over the course of 13 years had contact with 13 different children in the foster care system through DCYF. Zah-Nae was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and had a slew of other health complications, and each of the children under Rothgeb’s care had at least one physical or mental health diagnosis.

More >> Report: DCYF at fault for child's death

TAKING THE P Baby P’s mum Tracey Connelly offers to take lie detector test in bid to be freed from jail

THE evil mum of tortured Baby P has offered to take a lie detector test in a desperate bid to be freed from jail.

Tracey Connelly, who was jailed over the death of little Peter Connelly, made the offer as she again prepares a fresh parole bid.

More >> TAKING THE P Baby P’s mum Tracey Connelly offers to take lie detector test in bid to be freed from jail

• FREEDOM BID Baby P’s evil mum ‘to bid for taxpayer-funded parole claiming new fling with insurance salesman means she’s fit for release’

3 CPS employees on leave pending conclusions of deadly Natchez child abuse investigation

New developments in a deadly child abuse case in Natchez, where three employees with the Adams County office of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services have been placed on administrative leave.

Four-year-old Armani Hill died from severe abuse and her younger sister, Lailah Hill, who was also severely beaten, is out of the intensive care unit and is responding to treatment. Armani will be laid to rest Sunday, June 16.

More >> 3 CPS employees on leave pending conclusions of deadly Natchez child abuse investigation

• 2 state workers suspended in wake of deadly child abuse case

Child Advocate report: DCYF partly to blame for Warwick girl’s death

The state’s Office of the Child Advocate has released the findings of its investigation into the death of a 9-year-old Warwick girl, who was found face down in the bathtub of her adopted mother’s home in January.

The 57-page report includes a lengthy timeline of Michele Rothgeb’s dealings with the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) leading up to the discovery of Zhanae Rothgeb’s body.

More >> Child Advocate report: DCYF partly to blame for Warwick girl’s death

• Report: DCYF ‘inaction’ contributes to death of foster child
• 'This is murder,' RI state representative says of DCYF's role in Warwick girl's death
• Caseworker: DCYF sent children with nowhere else to go Rothgeb’s way
• R.I. lawmakers berate child-welfare head over death of girl with special needs

'The system failed him.' Dad did everything right to get custody, but he didn't and she was murdered

In an apartment on Second St. on Monday, June 3, Brighton Police found a horrific scene. A mom strangled her little girl, and then shot and killed herself. Now, many are looking back and seeing red flags. Could Bella have been saved?

Brighton Police say an autopsy found 38-year-old Melissa Freiberger-Partee took a revolver and shot herself in the head after drugging Bella and strangling her to death.

More >> 'The system failed him.' Dad did everything right to get custody, but he didn't and she was murdered

'Action taken' against Mississippi social workers in fatal child abuse case

A caseworker and a supervisor who failed to twice meet the state's 24-hour mandate investigating abuse claims involving two children — one of whom died last week following a severe beating — were placed on administrative leave Tuesday.

"We have taken personnel action against the frontline worker and the supervisor," Lea Anne Brandon, Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services director of communication, said Tuesday afternoon.

More >> 'Action taken' against Mississippi social workers in fatal child abuse case

Child Advocate report: DCYF partly to blame for Warwick girl’s death

The state’s Office of the Child Advocate has released the findings of its investigation into the death of a 9-year-old Warwick girl, who was found face down in the bathtub of her adopted mother’s home in January.

The 57-page report includes a lengthy timeline of Michele Rothgeb’s dealings with the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) leading up to the discovery of Zhanae Rothgeb’s body.

More >> Child Advocate report: DCYF partly to blame for Warwick girl’s death

Records: Father warned officials of child abuse, mental health issues before girl's death

A Brighton mother who killed her 5-year-old daughter before taking her own life was investigated by police and state officials for child abuse less than two years ago and the child's father accused her of having mental health issues.

Melissa Partee killed her 5-year-old daughter, Isabella, before killing herself in her Brighton apartment. Their bodies were found around noon Monday. Police haven't indicated when either might have died.

The child’s father, Nathan Younkin, called the Shelby Township Police Department on Sept.11, 2017, and reported Partee was physically abusing Isabella.

More >> Records: Father warned officials of child abuse, mental health issues before girl's death

Wayne County judge accused of hiding abuse of grandson taken off family court

A family court judge accused of covering up child abuse has new duties.

After FOX 2 investigator ML Elrick revealed that the judge's grandson said she used make-up to hide up his bruises, her boss reviewed the matter.

More >> Wayne County judge accused of hiding abuse of grandson taken off family court