How Could You? Hall of Shame-Mackenzie Fewox case-Child Death

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 Fort Myers, Florida, a 38-year-old foster dad,Dustin Gregory Todd, “was arrested Tuesday evening and booked into Lee County Jail on charges of suspected homicide and cruelty toward a child. ”

He “was arrested by the Cape Coral Police Department shortly before 6 p.m. He was picked up by U.S. marshals, said Lt. Dana Coston, public affairs officer for the Cape Coral police.

Cape Coral police announced the arrest during a news briefing Tuesday evening.The child, 13-month-old Mackenzie Fewox, died Jan 29 [2017],  said Capt. Tony Sizemore with the Cape Coral Police Department.

An online obituary for the little girl shows the toddler wearing a pink headband with a bow while precariously standing as she holds onto furniture. A Christmas tree is visible in the background.

She has a wide stare as she smiles for the camera.

“She is extremely loved by all,” the obituary reads.

Sizemore called it “a very difficult case.”

He declined to say what Mackenzie’s cause of death was.

“This was something we worked continually,” Sizemore said.

The investigation began when they were called to a home in the 500 block of SE 9 Avenue in Cape Coral on Jan. 29. Death investigations are initially treated as a homicide investigation until homicide can be ruled out, Sizemore said.

But with Mackenzie’s death, it quickly became apparent that it was a homicide, Sizemore said.

In homicides, Sizemore said, investigators start with those closest to the victim and work from there.

“We start with a circle and we work out from that,” he said.

Todd became a suspect, he said.

“He was in charge of the care and custody of the child,” Sizemore said.

It is unclear how Mackenzie came to be placed with the family, but the family was in the process of adopting her. It was a familial placement, which means instead of being in the care of the state, Mackenzie was being adopted by family, Sizemore said.

Sizemore said police have worked alongside with the Florida Department of Children and Families since the baby’s death.

Sizemore declined to answer whether this was the first time Mackenzie had been hurt.

Mackenzie lived at the home with two foster brothers, a stepson and a natural son to Todd. It is unclear if they remain at the home. Sizemore declined to provide the age of the two boys because of privacy concerns.

A spokeswoman for DCF did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.

“The death of any child under any circumstances is hard,” Sizemore said, adding that Mackenzie’s death “became especially gut-wrenching even for the most seasoned detective.”

Foster dad arrested in death of 13-month-old girl in Cape Coral

[News-Press 08/02/17 by Melissa Montoya]

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