How Could You? Hall of Shame-Trenton Mathis 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 Cherokee County, Texas, foster child and great-grandson Trenton Mathis, 2, found a loaded 9 mm pistol on his great grandfather’s nightstand and shot himself in the head. He was pronounced dead at the hospital on May 29, 2013. Trenton was one of four siblings removed from his abusive parent’s home in late 2012. Two of his siblings had been living in the same home and one with special needs had been placed in a Harris county foster home. CPS have now removed the remaining two siblings from the great grandparent’s home.

Here is the Judge Fail part: “CPS said late last year, four children, one of whom was Trenton, were removed from their parents home in Harris County because of abuse and neglect. Three of those children, including two-year-old Trenton, a ten-month-old and a five-year-old, were placed with their great-grandparents in a home near Bullard. The other child, who will turn two next month, was placed in a foster home in Harris County, because CPS felt the child had medical needs that could not be met by the great-grandparents.

CPS said they denied a home study on the great-grandparents, meaning CPS felt the home was not safe for the children. At a custody hearing, after listening to arguments from several attorneys, a judge ruled against the CPS recommendation and placed the three children with their biological great-grandparents.

The case will now be transferred back to Houston. CPS said the parents still live in Harris County.”

The shooting

“According to Trenton’s great-grandmother Carolyn Mathis, Trenton had eaten two pieces of gum Wednesday, and he asked his great-grandfather for more.  [Also not a smart thing to give a 2-year-old] His great-grandfather told Trenton he could have some after dinner. Later, Trenton went into his great-grandparent’s bedroom, looking for gum. Carolyn said Trenton’s great-grandfather left his handgun on the nightstand, but he thought he had closed and locked the door. Carolyn said the door was locked, but it was not closed all the way. Trenton was able to go into the bedroom, and then he climbed onto the bed and searched the nightstand looking for gum. Instead, he found the handgun.

The Cherokee County Sheriff said the Trenton shot himself around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday in the Shadybrook Subdivision near Lake Palestine, west of Bullard.

Captain John Raffield said the child’s great grandmother and great grandfather were at the home at the time of the shooting. Lake Palestine Volunteer Fire Department as well as the East Texas Medical Center EMS arrived on scene in an attempt to treat Trenton. Trenton was pronounced dead at the hospital. He would have turned three years old on July 5.

Carolyn said the family is devastated. She said she wants everyone who has guns in their homes to make sure they are locked away.

An account has been set up for Trenton Mathis at any Austin Bank location.”

Great-grandmother said Cherokee County boy who shot himself was looking for gum

[KLTV 5/31/13 by Michael Thompson and Shaley Sanders]

“According to the sheriff’s office, the boy shot himself in the face with a 9mm pistol. He would have turned three on July 5.

The exact details, including how the toddler came to find the gun, are still under investigation by the sheriff’s office.

No criminal charges had been filed as of Wednesday evening, and officials said once the investigation is complete, it would be forwarded to the Cherokee County District Attorney for review.”

2-year-old boy dead after shooting self

[Tyler Paper.com 5/30/13]

“A Texas toddler died after shooting himself with a 9 mm handgun he found in his home yesterday, prompting Child Protective Services to take custody of two other children living there.”

Trenton Mathis, 2, Dies By Shooting Self In Face In Texas Home

[Huffington Post 5/30/13]

REFORM Puzzle Pieces

Here is a case where CPS correctly evaluated and denied this couple and the stupid judge reversed the decision!

Update: ” A 2-year-old child died after a judge ignored a strong warning from Child Protective Services.

The judge who signed the order, ultimately placing the children where a shooting happened in that home, declined to comment on Wednesday, but the lawyer who recommended the placement in the home did comment, saying it was a tragic accident that could have happened anywhere.

In March, Child Protective Services told a judge that the home in Cherokee County was not a good location to place three children. A case worker said there was strong odor, clutter and a lack of supervision.

“Anytime a home assessment is denied, we obviously don’t want the children in the placement,” said Jennifer Davis, a lawyer for CPS.

A lawyer for the children, Jeff Marsh, argued against CPS, saying the home was safe. The judge signed the order approved the placement, and the kids were allowed to stay.

Two months later, on May 29, two-year-old Trenton Mathis found a gun in the home and fatally shot himself in the face.

On Wednesday, we asked Marsh if he stood by his recommendation.

“This is a tragic mistake that happens unfortunately in too many houses,” he said.

Marsh maintains his opinion about the placement of the children in spite of the tragedy, saying the children were loved and he wanted them to be with relatives.

“It was family, they knew them and they were comfortable. The history that had been there, and it fit,” Marsh said.

In December 2012, the children and a fourth sibling were taken away from their parents due to allegations of abuse and neglect. They had failed to comply with court requirements to be reunited with their children and they refused to comment to Eyewitness News about it.

One of the couple’s children was not placed in the home where the shooting happened, but instead placed in a Houston foster home. The 23-month-old had suffered rib fractures and starvation. Since the shooting, two surviving children had been at that Houston home. On Wednesday, another judge said they could stay.

So far, no charges have been filed in this case, but the Cherokee County DA’s office says it’s still investigating.”

Child, 2, dies after judge ignores Child Protective Services’ warning

[ABC 6/6/13 by Kaite McCall]