How Could You? Hall of Shame-14-Month-Old Foster Boy 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 Lincoln, Nebraska, “Lincoln Fire and Rescue was called to a home near Southwest 40 and A streets just before 11 p.m. on Dec. 22 on a report a baby was in cardiac distress and not breathing, according to police and dispatch records.”
“A caregiver performed CPR before medics arrived and took the baby to a local hospital, Lincoln Police Officer Katie Flood said.
Doctors determined he had retinal bleeding and brain swelling, and he was taken to a hospital in Omaha, police said.
A police report indicates investigators are looking into possible physical abuse.”
“Preliminary findings from the autopsy on a toddler in foster care who suffered a brain injury and died Tuesday are inconclusive, Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said Wednesday.
No arrests have been made in the investigation into the death of the 14-month-old boy, and police would not identify him.[Why not? And why do the foster parents also go unnamed?]
Bliemeister said more medical testing will be done to determine the cause of the death. The baby boy also suffered internal bleeding, he said.
“I can’t say if it is or is not a criminal act,” Bliemeister said Wednesday morning. “I can say a 14-month-old died, and that is tragic.”
“Bliemeister said investigators have been working with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. He has also been in contact with Gov. Pete Ricketts’ office because the child was in the state’s care.
The residents of the home in southwest Lincoln have been licensed foster care providers since January 2014 and have had no disciplinary reports filed against them, HHS spokesman Russ Reno said. He said HHS is monitoring the police investigation.
The boy’s 2-year-old sister, who also lived in the foster home, was examined and no indication of child abuse was found, police said. Because of the ongoing investigation, HHS removed the girl from the home, Bliemeister said.
The foster parents have cared for nine state wards since getting their license, Reno said. There has been no indication of abuse in the home, Bliemeister said.
“This is a very tragic situation, and our hearts go out to the family,” said Reno. “DHHS and our provider responsible for foster parent recruitment will continue to cooperate with law enforcement’s investigation.”
The boy and his sister were among 3,516 state wards placed outside of their homes in Nebraska as of Dec. 5, according to HHS.
Reno couldn’t say Wednesday how many children have died in Nebraska foster homes.”
Foster child who suffered brain injury dies[Lincoln Journal Star 12/29/16 by Nichole Manna]
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Update: “Lincoln police aren’t yet releasing the name of the baby in foster care who died Tuesday, but they did say the foster mother was the only other adult in the southwest Lincoln home when the baby stopped breathing.
Lancaster County Assessor’s website shows that the home listed in police reports is owned by Catherine and Bruce Benoist.
And Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Russ Reno confirmed the couple are licensed foster parents.
Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said Thursday the foster mother was the only other adult in the home when she called 911 to say the 14-month-old boy was in cardiac distress.
Authorities still are trying to determine what happened before the call from ….
An autopsy on the baby was done Wednesday. Thursday morning, Bliemeister said the results are pending further analysis and declined to give more information.
Earlier this week, police said the preliminary investigation indicated the baby suffered a brain injury and internal bleeding. Bliemeister said further testing will be done to determine his cause of death.
No arrests have been made, the chief said.
Catherine Benoist performed CPR before medics arrived and took the baby to a local hospital, according to records.
No evidence of abuse was found in an examination of the baby’s 2-year-old sister, who also lived in the foster home, police have said. The girl has been placed elsewhere.
The siblings were among 3,516 state wards placed outside of their homes in Nebraska as of Dec. 5, according to HHS.
In the past three years, 11 children in foster care died — none at the hands of foster caregivers, said Reno.
Of those, four had known medical conditions that resulted in their deaths, four entered foster care with existing serious injuries, two were medically fragile when they became state wards and one died of SIDS, Reno said.”
Police say foster mom called 911, was only adult home[Lincoln Journal Star 12/29/16 by Nichole Manna]
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