How Could You? Hall of Shame-Isabella Lee Gamez 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 Pensacola, Florida, “four-year-old [foster child] Isabella Lee Gamez died Oct. 1,[2017] three days after she was found at the bottom of the pool at My Father’s Arrows.

My Father’s Arrows is a faith-based public charity that helps children in foster care, according to its website.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office incident report on Isabella’s death is largely redacted, but says the child was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital on Sept. 28 after several people attempted CPR.

SRSO deputies arrived to find two volunteer firefighters performing CPR on the unresponsive child, assisted by the director of My Father’s Arrows, Sarah Ellis.

Ellis told police that four adults were present while children were swimming in the pool, but as they were trying to get the children out of the pool, another child yelled out that Isabella was under the water.

She was pulled from the water and an adult immediately began CPR, according to the report.

My Father’s Arrows spokeswoman Anica Padgett said the property where the drowning took place, 4025 Highway 178 in Jay, is owned by My Father’s Arrows but it isn’t a foster home.

She said the organization supports foster care families by collecting donations and completing tasks like laundry, for example, but no children are in their care. She said Isabella visited the property with a family who was using the pool that evening.

SRSO spokesman Sgt. Rich Aloy said Monday that the agency’s investigation is closed, and it was determined to be a “tragic accident.”

DCF, however, is still assessing the circumstances. DCF Secretary Mike Carroll said through a statement Monday that the foster/adoptive family did not have a history with the child welfare system prior to this incident, and other children are still in foster care in the home. Further than that, DCF cited confidentiality issues.

“The death of this child is deeply saddening and we are grieving with all who loved this child,” Carroll said in the statement.

“DCF opened a child death investigation into this tragedy and we are working closely with Families First Network and the family during this process to ensure the safety of the children still in the home.”

Carroll said DCF is assessing the need for training and resources to ensure children are safe in the home.”
DCF investigating after child drowns at Jay foster care nonprofit

[Penscola News Journal 10/9/17 by Emma Kennedy]

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