No Justice: 19MO Foster Child Found Dead In A Car Seat, Inside A Vehicle Outside Foster Home

[Sugar Cookie]

Authorities Monday identified a 19-month-old foster boy who died in Palmdale, and the investigation was continuing into his death.

Deputies responded to a call of a baby not breathing Friday, Jan. 24, according to Lt. Brandon Dean of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Joseph Chacon was taken to a hospital, where he died, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, which reported that the case had been placed on a security hold. The boy’s foster parents reportedly were questioned by investigators.

The boy was found unresponsive in a car seat inside a vehicle outside the home, according to broadcast reports that showed the vehicle being towed away and three other small children being taken from the home, apparently by L.A. County Child Protective Services.

Authorities ID foster boy who died in Palmdale; investigation continuing

PALMDALE - Authorities Monday identified a 19-month-old foster boy who died in Palmdale, and the investigation was continuing into his death.Deputies responded to a call of a baby not breathing in the 5700 block of Monaco Lane, near 55 Street East, at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, according to Lt. Bra

theavtimes.com

 

[Keepalowprofile]

Well that little check every month seemed like easy money.

 

[Sejanus]

Guess they were tired of fostering.

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Joseph’s death was ruled an accident and the case was closed.

The former chief child death investigator for LA County, Denise Bertone, is troubled by this case. “I am aware that this case was closed as an accident. I'm not comfortable with that,” she said.

Our investigation into the death found that the foster mother called 911 after finding Joseph tangled in his car seat straps and choking. But his body was already cold by the time he reached the emergency room, suggesting a delay in calling for help. There are also questions about whether marks found on the body were consistent with Joseph getting caught in his seatbelt.

The delay in seeking treatment may be squarely the fault of the foster mother, but was the system neglectful as well? One startling fact from the autopsy may begin to answer that: It turns out Joseph was not the first baby the foster mother called 911 about. Just two months before Joseph died, another foster baby, Draco Ford, was found not breathing in the very same foster home.

In Draco’s case, it appears investigators believed the cause of death to be SIDs, and took no further action. Denise Bertone questions whether a SIDs death determination can happen that quickly, especially by non-trained experts.

She sees two distinct possibilities that need to be investigated. One is an unintentional death due to an unsafe sleep environment. So if the crib had soft toys or pillows, and a baby rolls over and his face buries in the pillow, and then he cannot lift his head or turn back over, he suffocates. The other is intentional suffocation. Investigating how a child died is complex, Bertone says.

The safest route would have been to take the other foster children out of that home the day Draco Ford died until these questions could be answered by the medical examiner.

What happens when the system meant to protect… | KCRW

More than a dozen children died in the last five years while in the custody of LA’s Department of Children and Family Services.

www.kcrw.com

 

[GoneWest]

Hope this means this person has the power to have these people investigated. Can’t believe 2 deaths in as many months caused no concern to investigators.
On a side note-c’mon Draco really?