How Could You? Hall of Shame-Lailla Sara Ann Jensen case-Child Death UPDATED

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 Payson, Utah, foster child Lailla Sara Ann Jensen, 7 months, died on October 22, 2010. She “suffocated when she became wedged between a daybed frame and a mattress, according to court documents.”

“According to police reports, the foster mother — who had been caring for the girl since birth — had placed the infant on a toddler daybed for a nap. She told police the daybed was not where the child normally slept, but another foster child who shared a room with the girl was already asleep in their room.

Police say the woman then went outside to work in the yard. About 30-40 minutes later, she went back inside to check on the infant. She found that the child had moved off the edge of the bed and had become lodged in the metal rails of the daybed.

The state Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that the girl’s death was accidental and the cause of death was asphyxia due to wedging. No criminal charges were filed.

The parents, Estella M. Chandler and Michael L. Jensen, are seeking over $300,000 in damages, according to court documents. They say that state failed to ensure the safety of their daughter, Lailla,by “failure to teach, failure to educate and failure to supervise those selected to care for the child, and failed to select careful and prudent custodial persons with whom the child was placed.”

DCFS officials declined to comment because they had not yet seen the lawsuit. The foster parents are also listed as defendants in the lawsuit.

Attorneys Neil Skousen and Jared Anderson said in a statement that the dead child’s parents are pursuing the court “to ensure Utah DCFS is held accountable and that the agency makes the necessary changes to protect the lives of current and future Utah children in its care and custody.”

Utah County couple sues state after daughter’s accidental death

[The Salt Lake Tribune 7/18/12 by Jessica Miller]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: Lailla was born “March 22, 2010, and taken into state custody on April 1.”

The foster parent’s name is revealed.

“On Oct. 21, 2010, Lailla was placed in a daybed for a nap by Suzanne ReKow, the Spanish Fork foster parent who had been caring for the infant since birth. According to the police report, she then went outside to do some yard work. When she came back 30-40 minutes later to check on Lailla, she found the infant wedged between the rail and the mattress. She was rushed to the hospital, but died the following day.”

Couple whose infant died while in foster care files wrongful death lawsuit

[Deseret News 7/23/12 by Peter Samore]