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National 2008 CPS News
Eliseo's death as "suspicious"
The family of a child who may have been fatally crushed by an obese relative was investigated five times by Child Protective
Services for allegations including physical violence and neglect, and their only statement is "Whenever we have
investigated, the mother has always cooperated with case workers,". "And just because someone has had cases called does not
necessarily mean there is abuse going on." Mean while, authorities has described Eliseo's death as "suspicious,"
did not rule out foul play and said charges of homicide, manslaughter or child endangerment could be filed, pending autopsy
results due out Monday.
2-year-old Eliseo Gonzalez Jr
Protective Services has joined the investigation into a toddler's death this is the agency's sixth case involving the
family in question, when 2-year-old Eliseo Gonzalez Jr. somehow fractured his skull. It happened at a La Joya home. The family
inside called 911 and the toddler was rushed to the hospital. He died there late yesterday afternoon.
La Joya police got involved and turned the case over to the sheriff's department. They're still trying to figure out
how the toddler ended up with a head injury. They're also investigating whether there are any child endangerment concerns.
There's now word yet of any charges against anyone as CPS workers filed a report involving the family only a few months ago.
The agency has investigated the family for physical abuse and for neglectful supervision it was stated that there were three
other children at that home when the toddler was fatally injured. They're now staying with relatives.
DO THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO HIDE?
After C.J. Young was beaten to death in August 2003, state Child Protective Services
acknowledged that the agency had been closely involved with the 2-year-old's family for more than a decade. And though
the law allowed CPS to release records in the case, it refused to do so, citing prosecutors' concerns that such disclosure
could jeopardize the investigation into the Mesa boy's death.
It took more than a year before an arrest was made in the high-profile case, and another two-plus years before C.J.'s mother
started a 17-year prison sentence for child abuse. Whether C.J.'s death helped CPS to make any systemic changes is unknown,
because neither the case file nor any review, if one was done, has been made public. Now, legislative efforts to open
CPS records when children die, or nearly die, are struggling to overcome the same concerns raised about C.J.'s case.
DEBATE OVER SECRECY
At issue is the long-held belief that the child welfare system and the people who work in it are
entitled to more secrecy than the rest of state government. "The law does protect children, and rightfully so. And this
amendment to the law would protect them as well," meeting with lawmakers on the bill. "But the state shouldn't
use children as an excuse for not sharing basic information with the public, especially when a child dies when he or she is
in the care of the state."
Rep. Kirk Adams, R-Mesa, and Rep. Jonathan Paton, R-Tucson, have pushed a package of CPS bills through Adams' government
committee, including one to require prompt release of records when a child dies from abuse or neglect. They expected to bring
the bills to the House floor last week for a vote. But a surprise amendment from Rep. Linda Lopez, D-Tucson, and concerns
from Gov. Janet Napolitano have temporarily derailed the public records bill and the other measures.
Adams and Paton say that HB2454, which is on today's House debate calendar, is the cornerstone of their proposed reforms,
which include measures to require cooperation between police and caseworkers, make child dependency hearings public, open
disciplinary records of state employees, and enable missing persons reports to be filed on certain children. The bills
stem from the deaths of three Tucson children who were known to CPS and whose parents are accused of killing them. Tucson
newspapers went to court to force release of CPS records in the cases of Brandon Williams and siblings Tyler and Ariana Payne.
The Lopez amendment would have tightened the law even further, requiring CPS to release only the name of the child and
the person accused of abuse, and whether there had been previous reports involving that child and the accused. Lopez
has said she's concerned about protecting the identities of siblings and other innocent family members, and doesn't want to
run afoul of federal laws that require such protection.
HERE IS WHY AMERICA'S CHILDREN ARE DYING IN CPS CARE!
WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE PARENTS ARE GOOD FOR CPS OFFICIALS OR ARE
WE JUST AFTER PARENTS?
Paton and Adams said they allayed her concerns in a meeting March 10. Lopez, a former foster parent,
didn't return a call seeking comment. Gilbert foster mother Julie Bank-Rollins said opening up CPS is a good idea, in
part because it would help the public understand that the system is overwhelmed and underfunded. Her family has cared for
25 children over the past 10 years, including kids with developmental disabilities and behavioral problems.
"I think the agency should be accountable. ... But they don't have the resources." "There's no way they can
see all of these children once a month." On Wednesday, the governor met with Paton and Adams, offering her own amendment
to ensure that CPS reports aren't released before prosecutors can review them. Paton said the governor's amendment won't
work because it allows the agency to issue summaries, then give prosecutors carte blanche to withhold the rest. Summaries
are routinely all that's currently released in child death cases.
"Summaries have proven to be meaningless at best and misleading at worst," But Mike Haener, the governor's deputy
chief of staff, said the current language would allow case files to be made public before attorneys can determine whether
that could jeopardize a criminal case. "It's a sequencing issue," Haener said. "All we're trying to do is say, let CPS
release the information they can release" in a summary, while the county attorney determines how much of the case file should
be open. In any case, a judge would settle disputes between CPS and those seeking more information. But the Paton-Adams
bill would require prosecutors to show how releasing the information would cause "a specific, material harm" to their investigation.
HERE IS A TRUE HERO, WHEN CHILDREN ARE DYING UNDER THE SAME AGENCY THEY WORKED FOR
A 17-month-old
was abducted by his parents and presumably taken to Mexico has been in the care of Child Protective Services since he was
about 2 months old, when abuse allegations surfaced. Authorities' efforts to find little Miguel Echave-Felix continued
Friday. Phoenix police have notified border agents and are working with authorities in Sinaloa, Mexico, which is where they
believe the family was headed. If they don't catch the family before they make it across the border, it's unlikely they
will ever return. Mexican officials are under no obligation to hand over the child.
"That's where the problem begins." "Mexican law is different from American law, and whether or not they're going
to do something to extradite? Probably not, considering the child is with the biological parents. "Our concern is obviously
for the child. We just want to make sure the child is OK." Miguel was kidnapped Wednesday with the aid of a liaison
who, less than two weeks before, left his job with Southwest Human Development, a company that has worked with CPS for more
than a decade. Gonzales said the foster family probably didn't know that Armando Flores, 47, was no longer an official liaison
when he asked to take the baby to visit his parents.
Flores is being held in a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap and custodial interference. Maricopa
County sheriff's records show Flores was born in Mexico, and immigration officials have placed a hold on him, meaning he cannot
be released on bail. Holds are typically placed on someone believed to be in the country illegally. Flores told investigators
he agreed to help Sobieda Felix and Angel Echave-Felix, both 35, flee to Mexico with the boy after a tearful plea, court records
show. The Felixes were the subject of a Phoenix police and CPS investigation that began in December 2006. No charges
had been filed in the abuse case, and the nature of the allegations was unclear.
In the meantime, the boy had been living with foster parents and allowed supervised visits with his natural family.
"The foster parents are devastated by this," Gonzales said. "They got duped by someone they trusted." The Felixes do
not have a vehicle and may be traveling by bus. Anyone with information is asked to contact Phoenix police at 602-262-6141.
Children Living in “Disgusting” Conditions Unfit for Humans
An Oak Hill couple was charged with multiple counts of child abuse and neglect after city police said they found four children
living in “disgusting” conditions unfit for humans, each charged with four felony counts of child abuse and neglect
by a parent, guardian or custodian leading to bodily injury and held on $20,000 bonds, also charged with one count each of
obstructing a police officer.
Police were called to Pine Knoll Apartments around 4:30 p.m. Monday to assist Child Protective Services workers to remove
Ulmer’s four children — three girls ages 10, 8 and 6, and a boy, 7 months — after receiving an order to
do so by a judge. When officers arrived, Ulmer and Fitzwater, her boyfriend, were instructed to open the door. They
refused, and officers entered through an unlocked rear door, then encountered the worst living conditions he had ever seen.
Trash was strewn throughout the three-bedroom, two-level apartment to the point where one bedroom door could not be opened,
he said. Dirty diapers were found “all over.” Maggots were found in a bathroom, also found dog feces and urine
virtually everywhere, including the children’s beds. The two small-breed dogs that appeared to have skin problems were
seized by animal control officers.
“No human being should have to live like that — especially kids,” was his overall statement. The
children, initially upset, were taken to Plateau Medical Center as a precaution because of their living conditions. They were
then released to CPS custody. Jarvis advised people — particularly school officials and others who work with children
— to be observant when it comes to children’s overall hygiene and appearance, noting any constant and severe problems.
Two Boys Thrown
From a Dallas Bridge By Their Mother
new information
about the two boys thrown from a Dallas bridge by their mother earlier this month. Court documents are alleging that other
family members may have abused the boys. It's been a week and a half since witnesses say Khandi Busby threw her two sons off
the Jim Miller Bridge onto Interstate-30 in Dallas, before jumping off herself. One of her sons, 8-year-old Gary Ford, continues
to recover at Children's Hospital.
Court documents show the two boys had been victims of physical abuse and neglect since October of 2004, not just from
their mother, but by other family members. Papers show Ford, and his 6-year-old brother Derrick Tennison, have had a long
history of physical abuse. According to the documents, in fall of 2004, Tennison had an, "old burn on his upper left arm"
and "a bruise on his eye." For those injuries Child Protective Services determined neglectful supervision and the family received
CPS services until January 2005.
In March of 2005, the boys were placed into foster care after their mother was arrested for assaulting her ex-boyfriend.
The kids were returned to her in November. "When she was out of jail, and she was able to complete some of the things the
court asked her to do, the judge approved for the children to go back home." In October of 2006 Tennison's aunt
allegedly, "hit him with a brush." Papers also state that the child had, "burns on his forehead" and "bite marks on
his arm." Upon further investigation, family members told CPS that Tennison got the injuries from playing rough with his cousins.
For this incident, CPS workers referred the family to an outreach organization.
CPS did not receive any reports of abuse between 2006 and March of this year. The court documents show that Ford
suffered life threatening internal injuries when his mother allegedly threw him 22 feet from the bridge. Tennison was
released from the hospital last week and is now in foster care. During a court hearing, scheduled for next week, CPS
officials say they will push to keep Tennison in foster care and to place Ford in foster care once he is released from the
hospital. According to officials, CPS interviewed family members for possible placement, but found they were not suitable.
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