How Could You? Hall of Shame-child death in Connecticut

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From New Milford, Connecticut, a 2011 case that we missed revealed that an unidentified 7-year-old male foster child was at a pool party on July 19, 2011 when he went under the water around noon.

“When adults at the party pulled the boy out of the water, they realized he had stopped breathing.
“Two nurses were at the party and began (performing) CPR on the boy. When police and paramedics arrived, the child was in cardiac arrest,” Lt. Larry Ash said. “Paramedics continued CPR and the boy was transported by ambulance to New Milford Hospital.”

Doctors restored the boy’s heartbeat and his breathing at the hospital, Ash said. At 2:40 p.m., the child was being prepared for transport to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, according to police.

The home where the incident occurred is listed on Vision Appraisal as being owned by Raymond and Moira Curatolo.”

New Milford boy, 7, saved from drowning
[New Milford Spectrum 7/19/11 by Susan Tuz]

“The child never regained consciousness after being pulled from the water by adults at a party on Eastern Lane, said New Milford Police Lt. Larry Ash.

He died at approximately 8:15 p.m. Thursday at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford where he had been transported by Life Star Tuesday, Ash said.

The boy’s name was not released. He was a foster child from New Milford in the custody of the state Department of Children and Families, police said.

DCF spokesman Gary Kleeblatt said Thursday [July 21, 2011] that the boy’s name was withheld, “out of respect for the family.”

The boy had been in foster care in “a therapeutic foster home licensed by a private agency,” Kleeblatt added.

DCF Commissioner Joette Katz expressed “deep regret and sorrow” Thursday over the child’s death in a prepared statement.

“The loss of a child is an incomparable one,” Katz said. “Our hearts go out to the boy’s family.”
Katz said the birth family and foster family were together with boy at the hospital around the clock and were working together to support one another and the boy. DCF staff was also at the hospital, Katz said.

“I want to recognize the remarkable way the birth and foster families were together at the hospital, supporting one another over these last days,” Katz said. “I also want to thank our staff and the medical team.”

New Milford police are investigating the incident as well as DCF. Katz has ordered that a special review be conducted. Kleeblatt said this often happens with an open case.

New Milford Police are waiting for results of a medical examination for the official ruling regarding the cause of death.”

Boy, 7, dies after near-drowning in New Milford[Connecticut Post 7/22/11 by Susan Tuz]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

We have not found any published reports of a DCF “special review” into this case. Connecticut has a website for investigation of child fatalities when a child is under any kind of DCF care here. His case is not listed.