UPDATE: Long-term abuse possible in foster child death
Child welfare workers said Monday that confidentiality laws prohibited them from responding to claims they had been warned a little girl was in danger before the child’s bruised body was abandoned in a southwest Bakersfield home Sunday.
Also on Monday:
The coroner’s office identified the victim as Serenity Julia Gandara, 3.
The coroner’s office reported an autopsy was performed and the cause and manner of death “are pending further investigation."
The Bakersfield Police Department said the girl’s foster parents – who were her aunt and uncle – probably are in or near Mexico hiding from authorities. The parents, Carla Garcia, 26, and Alberto Garcia, 26, apparently took their three biological children. Relatives said Carla Garcia is a Mexican citizen.
Police said Carla Garcia called her sister Sunday morning and asked her to come to the Garcia house in the 5900 block of Summer Country Drive, in southwest Bakersfield.
When she got there, the sister found Serenity’s body on the floor in one room, and Serenity’s 4-year-old brother sleeping in another room. The Garcias and their three children were gone.
Police said Serenity had trauma to her head and torso, and both she and her brother had injuries in various stages of healing.
On Monday, Maria Garcia, the maternal grandmother of the foster children, told Channel 17’s Emily Moore she had warned a CPS social worker about abuse in the Garcia household.
"I told her many times something happened with these kids,” Maria Garcia said.
The children belonged to Alberto Garcia's sister, but he and Carla were fostering them and were in the process of adopting them.
The toddler’s paternal grandmother, Renee Maese, said other family members wanted to adopt the children, but CPS would not consider anyone but Alberto and Carla.
Barbara Zimmerman of the Kern County Department of Social Services said she could not comment on the case, even to answer the family’s allegations, until the case was determined to have been foul play.
Alberto and Carla Garcia are believed to be in a white 1997 Ford Explorer, Eddie Bauer edition, with a license plate number of 5FLC681.
Anyone who sees the car is asked to call 911.
http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/UPDATE-Long-term-abuse-possible-in-foster-child/ZQ6xBey4HUSBt2GRo8jMiw.cspx
Isabella Brooke Knightly and Austin Gamez-Knightly
In Memory of my Loving Husband, William F. Knightly Jr. Murdered by ILLEGAL Palliative Care at a Nashua, NH Hospital
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Mother sues state workers for ignoring danger signs that led to ex-husband's 2007 murder-suicide that killed her 9-year-old son Nicholas Braman
Mother sues state workers for ignoring danger signs that led to ex-husband's 2007 murder-suicide that killed her 9-year-old son Nicholas Braman
Published: Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 7:02 AM Updated: Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 8:59 AM
John Agar | The Grand Rapids Press
Nicholas Braman
MONTCALM COUNTY -- A federal lawsuit alleges Children's Protective Services workers ignored obvious danger to 9-year-old Nicholas Braman, and kept him in his father's care despite the father's abuse conviction for using an electric cattle prod on two older sons.
"The death of Nicholas Daniel Braman would have been avoided if defendants had simply done what they were obligated to do by law to protect (the boy) from further abuse and neglect ...," attorney Gregory Wix wrote in the civil lawsuit, filed earlier this month by the boy's mother.
The tragedy gained wide attention when Nicholas Braman, along with his father, Oliver Braman, and his stepmother, Elaine Kaczor-Braman, were found dead Oct. 16, 2007, in their Stanton home. The boy was drugged before his father attached his pickup exhaust to the dryer vent of their house, flooding a bedroom with carbon monoxide.
The deaths occurred 11 days after Braman failed to appear for sentencing hearing on child abuse charges.
Adding to the heartbreak was a suicide note young Nicholas had left behind, scrawled in his childish hand, saying he wanted to be with his father and stepmother "forever and ever." While authorities say the boy was too young to make such a decision himself, a portion of his note read, "I take care of my mom and dad just like they take care of me."
The lawsuit alleges Children's Protective Services, under the state Department of Human Services, ignored evidence the boy was at risk with his father. Both a prosecutor and the boy's mother, Rebecca Jasinski of Saginaw, raised red flags.
A month before the deaths, Assistant Montcalm County Prosecutor Misty Davis told CPS that "An investigation should definitely be commenced ... . Oliver literally 'shocked' his older boys with a cattle prod repeatedly. As you know abuse to one child is abuse to all. In my opinion, there is no justification for the youngest boy to remain in the care of this man."
Two weeks later, she told authorities that Braman had pleaded guilty to child abuse charges. The response, just hours before the deaths were discovered: "We've never felt that Nicholas was at risk."
Jasinski had "begged" CPS workers in Saginaw to remove her youngest son from Braman's home, but was denied.
The state agency has admitted that the boy should have been removed from his father's home and placed with his mother.
Named as defendants are: CPS workers Sheri Tyler and Mary Sommers; supervisors Jamie Lovelace and Rhoda Dietrich: former director of the Department of Humane Services Marianna Udow; Laura Champagne, former chief deputy director; Ted Forrest, manager of CPS: and Chad Campbell, director of Community Hope Christian Counseling and Mental Health Center.
Edward Woods III, spokesman for Department of Human Services, said he could not comment on pending litigation, but said the agency continually works to improve services to children.
"Obviously, we're very concerned about the safety of children."
Children's Protective Services workers are represented by the state Attorney General's office, which would not comment on pending litigation. Harvey Heller, attorney for Campbell and the counseling center, declined to comment.
The lawsuit cited the father's "long history of abuse" of his children, including the older boys, Oliver and Tyler.
Oliver Braman
Among complaints investigated -- and denied -- by CPS, beginning in 1998, were:
• The father abused the children, and struck one so hard blood vessels broke in the child's nose.
• The father threatened to kill Nicholas, who feared his father. The father and his live-in girlfriend pulled out the children's teeth before they were ready to come out on their own.
• The father threw son Oliver off the porch and kicked him because the boy could not find his glasses.
• The father, believing that Oliver was afraid of the dark, left him miles away at night to find his way home. He did the same with Tyler. The boys told CPS workers they were beaten on their bare bottoms, and pliers were put on their fingers.
In 2006, the father was investigated for molesting a child. During that investigation, authorities learned the boys were disciplined with a cattle prod.
"Again, CPS, including defendant Lovelace, denied that the children were being abused or neglected and completely failed to 'investigate, collect evidence, or reach a disposition on the allegation that Mr. Braman used a cattle prod on his children,' according (to) the Office of the Children's Ombudsman," Wix wrote in the lawsuit.
The three boys were living with their father on Aug. 1, 2007, when the older boys called their mother and said they were running away because of abuse. The mother called CPS workers in Saginaw, but was threatened with arrest for kidnapping if she picked them up, she said.
She picked up her two older sons and brought them to Saginaw.
The next day, the boys told CPS workers about the use of a cattle prod. Braman did not deny the abuse, and was arrested by Montcalm County sheriff's deputies.
Sheri Tyler, a CPS worker in Montcalm, confirmed in an e-mail that there was no investigation, which was proper because Saginaw authorities "'did not seek removal,'" the lawsuit said.
The Office of Children's Ombudsman said that regardless of any action by Saginaw authorities, Montcalm CPS should have acted "at the earliest point it became aware of Mr. Braman's egregious acts of abuse ... ," the lawsuit said.
E-mail John Agar: jagar@grpress.com
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/07/mother_sues_state_workers_for.html
Published: Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 7:02 AM Updated: Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 8:59 AM
John Agar | The Grand Rapids Press
Nicholas Braman
MONTCALM COUNTY -- A federal lawsuit alleges Children's Protective Services workers ignored obvious danger to 9-year-old Nicholas Braman, and kept him in his father's care despite the father's abuse conviction for using an electric cattle prod on two older sons.
"The death of Nicholas Daniel Braman would have been avoided if defendants had simply done what they were obligated to do by law to protect (the boy) from further abuse and neglect ...," attorney Gregory Wix wrote in the civil lawsuit, filed earlier this month by the boy's mother.
The tragedy gained wide attention when Nicholas Braman, along with his father, Oliver Braman, and his stepmother, Elaine Kaczor-Braman, were found dead Oct. 16, 2007, in their Stanton home. The boy was drugged before his father attached his pickup exhaust to the dryer vent of their house, flooding a bedroom with carbon monoxide.
The deaths occurred 11 days after Braman failed to appear for sentencing hearing on child abuse charges.
Adding to the heartbreak was a suicide note young Nicholas had left behind, scrawled in his childish hand, saying he wanted to be with his father and stepmother "forever and ever." While authorities say the boy was too young to make such a decision himself, a portion of his note read, "I take care of my mom and dad just like they take care of me."
The lawsuit alleges Children's Protective Services, under the state Department of Human Services, ignored evidence the boy was at risk with his father. Both a prosecutor and the boy's mother, Rebecca Jasinski of Saginaw, raised red flags.
A month before the deaths, Assistant Montcalm County Prosecutor Misty Davis told CPS that "An investigation should definitely be commenced ... . Oliver literally 'shocked' his older boys with a cattle prod repeatedly. As you know abuse to one child is abuse to all. In my opinion, there is no justification for the youngest boy to remain in the care of this man."
Two weeks later, she told authorities that Braman had pleaded guilty to child abuse charges. The response, just hours before the deaths were discovered: "We've never felt that Nicholas was at risk."
Jasinski had "begged" CPS workers in Saginaw to remove her youngest son from Braman's home, but was denied.
The state agency has admitted that the boy should have been removed from his father's home and placed with his mother.
Named as defendants are: CPS workers Sheri Tyler and Mary Sommers; supervisors Jamie Lovelace and Rhoda Dietrich: former director of the Department of Humane Services Marianna Udow; Laura Champagne, former chief deputy director; Ted Forrest, manager of CPS: and Chad Campbell, director of Community Hope Christian Counseling and Mental Health Center.
Edward Woods III, spokesman for Department of Human Services, said he could not comment on pending litigation, but said the agency continually works to improve services to children.
"Obviously, we're very concerned about the safety of children."
Children's Protective Services workers are represented by the state Attorney General's office, which would not comment on pending litigation. Harvey Heller, attorney for Campbell and the counseling center, declined to comment.
The lawsuit cited the father's "long history of abuse" of his children, including the older boys, Oliver and Tyler.
Oliver Braman
Among complaints investigated -- and denied -- by CPS, beginning in 1998, were:
• The father abused the children, and struck one so hard blood vessels broke in the child's nose.
• The father threatened to kill Nicholas, who feared his father. The father and his live-in girlfriend pulled out the children's teeth before they were ready to come out on their own.
• The father threw son Oliver off the porch and kicked him because the boy could not find his glasses.
• The father, believing that Oliver was afraid of the dark, left him miles away at night to find his way home. He did the same with Tyler. The boys told CPS workers they were beaten on their bare bottoms, and pliers were put on their fingers.
In 2006, the father was investigated for molesting a child. During that investigation, authorities learned the boys were disciplined with a cattle prod.
"Again, CPS, including defendant Lovelace, denied that the children were being abused or neglected and completely failed to 'investigate, collect evidence, or reach a disposition on the allegation that Mr. Braman used a cattle prod on his children,' according (to) the Office of the Children's Ombudsman," Wix wrote in the lawsuit.
The three boys were living with their father on Aug. 1, 2007, when the older boys called their mother and said they were running away because of abuse. The mother called CPS workers in Saginaw, but was threatened with arrest for kidnapping if she picked them up, she said.
She picked up her two older sons and brought them to Saginaw.
The next day, the boys told CPS workers about the use of a cattle prod. Braman did not deny the abuse, and was arrested by Montcalm County sheriff's deputies.
Sheri Tyler, a CPS worker in Montcalm, confirmed in an e-mail that there was no investigation, which was proper because Saginaw authorities "'did not seek removal,'" the lawsuit said.
The Office of Children's Ombudsman said that regardless of any action by Saginaw authorities, Montcalm CPS should have acted "at the earliest point it became aware of Mr. Braman's egregious acts of abuse ... ," the lawsuit said.
E-mail John Agar: jagar@grpress.com
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/07/mother_sues_state_workers_for.html
Child dies from traumatic brain injury; foster parent charged
Child dies from traumatic brain injury; foster parent charged
Christa Graban Chris Zoladz
Updated:7/20/2010 5:13:57 PM - Posted: 7/20/2010 2:39:12 PM
GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - A foster parent is charged with open murder in the death of a five-year-old girl.
On July 16, Emily Meno was taken to Spectrum Hospital in downtown Grand Rapids for a traumatic brain injury. Hospital workers called the Kent County Sheriff's Department and child Protective Services to investigate.
Five-year-old Emily Meno died July 17. Her foster parent, a single woman providing care through Bethany Christian Services, was taken into police custody and charged with open murder.
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=124473&catid=14
David Pederson with Pederson Funeral Home in Rockford tells WZZM 13 News Emily's birth mother is mildly developmentally impaired and that is why the child was in foster care.
The prosecutor's office is reviewing the case and more information may be available after the foster parent's arraignment.
Christa Graban Chris Zoladz
Updated:7/20/2010 5:13:57 PM - Posted: 7/20/2010 2:39:12 PM
GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - A foster parent is charged with open murder in the death of a five-year-old girl.
On July 16, Emily Meno was taken to Spectrum Hospital in downtown Grand Rapids for a traumatic brain injury. Hospital workers called the Kent County Sheriff's Department and child Protective Services to investigate.
Five-year-old Emily Meno died July 17. Her foster parent, a single woman providing care through Bethany Christian Services, was taken into police custody and charged with open murder.
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=124473&catid=14
David Pederson with Pederson Funeral Home in Rockford tells WZZM 13 News Emily's birth mother is mildly developmentally impaired and that is why the child was in foster care.
The prosecutor's office is reviewing the case and more information may be available after the foster parent's arraignment.
Reformed Daughter And Wonderful Grandparents...Willard Case Message from the Willards:
Reformed Daughter And Wonderful Grandparents...Willard Case
Message from the Willards:
Our daughter's appeal was denied. We now go to adoption court against the great-grandparents on August 5th. Our daughter is appealing now to the Supreme Court of Washington.
I am campaigning. That means this will be short. But, the story is one of CPS charging forward with their minds already made up. Lying to the judges...they have absolutely no cares for what they have done.
The Willard's daughter was promised by CPS that if she relinquished custody of her little girl (Lilly as reported here) that her parents would be able to adopt Lilly. (That was lie #1. They can not make that promise and there was no paperwork to make them hold to that.)
The state took Lilly and put her in foster adopt with the 26 year-old single woman who had put in an order for a blond blue-eyed little girl.
I entered the seen. You know...just trying to help. The foster adopt filed an ethics complaint with the Senate (something that CPS probably said would be fun for her to do). I won. There is actually nothing wrong with a legislator trying to help a citizen from a lying bureaucracy. Personally, I think more should get involved. But then...I think government people who lie should be held accountable.
The state did a second home study replacing some lies (the grandparents stole a computer, etc) with other lies (Mrs. Willard was on dialysis and had breast cancer, etc.). Nothing happened to anyone because of the lies told to a judge. Nothing good was ever said about the Willards in the home study.
While all this was happening the MOTHER, sobered up, started school, and got a job. She has her own place to live. She petitioned to have her child back in a timely manner. Lilly never would have been taken if the state had not promised that Lilly would go to her young (45ish) grandparents.
With my intervention and some special political connection of the great-grandmother, Lilly was placed with the wealthy GGPs. That is certainly better than having her with the unrelated foster woman. So, that at least is a plus.
The court, today, ruled that Lilly's mother can not have her back and there will be a adoption hearing for the GGPs who have had "Lilly" for many months. The mother will appeal this ruling from the Court of Appeals. She is appealing to the Supreme Court of WA.
Please see the case that was decided in this court just a few weeks ago. The case of AB is reported here in PRR. The system is just fine with the lies. For them the end justifies the means. But the mother and the Willards, the hundreds of friends that the Willards have, and at least one legislator....me....understand that this monster of a government agency helps kill kids (one a month) on one hand...and takes kids and redistributes them on the other.
Posted by State Senator Pam Roach at 10:22 PM
http://pamroachreport.blogspot.com/2010/07/reformed-daughter-and-wonderful.html
Message from the Willards:
Our daughter's appeal was denied. We now go to adoption court against the great-grandparents on August 5th. Our daughter is appealing now to the Supreme Court of Washington.
I am campaigning. That means this will be short. But, the story is one of CPS charging forward with their minds already made up. Lying to the judges...they have absolutely no cares for what they have done.
The Willard's daughter was promised by CPS that if she relinquished custody of her little girl (Lilly as reported here) that her parents would be able to adopt Lilly. (That was lie #1. They can not make that promise and there was no paperwork to make them hold to that.)
The state took Lilly and put her in foster adopt with the 26 year-old single woman who had put in an order for a blond blue-eyed little girl.
I entered the seen. You know...just trying to help. The foster adopt filed an ethics complaint with the Senate (something that CPS probably said would be fun for her to do). I won. There is actually nothing wrong with a legislator trying to help a citizen from a lying bureaucracy. Personally, I think more should get involved. But then...I think government people who lie should be held accountable.
The state did a second home study replacing some lies (the grandparents stole a computer, etc) with other lies (Mrs. Willard was on dialysis and had breast cancer, etc.). Nothing happened to anyone because of the lies told to a judge. Nothing good was ever said about the Willards in the home study.
While all this was happening the MOTHER, sobered up, started school, and got a job. She has her own place to live. She petitioned to have her child back in a timely manner. Lilly never would have been taken if the state had not promised that Lilly would go to her young (45ish) grandparents.
With my intervention and some special political connection of the great-grandmother, Lilly was placed with the wealthy GGPs. That is certainly better than having her with the unrelated foster woman. So, that at least is a plus.
The court, today, ruled that Lilly's mother can not have her back and there will be a adoption hearing for the GGPs who have had "Lilly" for many months. The mother will appeal this ruling from the Court of Appeals. She is appealing to the Supreme Court of WA.
Please see the case that was decided in this court just a few weeks ago. The case of AB is reported here in PRR. The system is just fine with the lies. For them the end justifies the means. But the mother and the Willards, the hundreds of friends that the Willards have, and at least one legislator....me....understand that this monster of a government agency helps kill kids (one a month) on one hand...and takes kids and redistributes them on the other.
Posted by State Senator Pam Roach at 10:22 PM
http://pamroachreport.blogspot.com/2010/07/reformed-daughter-and-wonderful.html
Orphan status for child cancer drug
Orphan status for child cancer drug
Thursday 15th July 2010
An experimental treatment which could help fight a cancer that attacks the nervous system of young children has been granted orphan drug status by the Food and Drug Administration.
http://www.pharmacyeurope.net/default.asp?title=Orphanstatusforchildcancerdrug&page=article.display&article.id=22231
Thursday 15th July 2010
An experimental treatment which could help fight a cancer that attacks the nervous system of young children has been granted orphan drug status by the Food and Drug Administration.
http://www.pharmacyeurope.net/default.asp?title=Orphanstatusforchildcancerdrug&page=article.display&article.id=22231
Attorney Jailed Denied Rights for Exposing Judicial Corruption, Richard Fine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrUv6riFSRA&feature=watch_response
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