How Could You? Hall of Shame-Jacob Bailey Mutis 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 Spartanburg, South Carolina, a 3 year old foster boy, Jacob Bailey Mutis, died “after he was left in a hot car in Spartanburg, South Carolina, authorities said.”

“When officers responded to a home around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, the boy’s guardian told them that he was mistakenly left in the car, Spartanburg police said. She said she thought she dropped the 3-year-old off at day care with her other children that morning, but didn’t notice he hadn’t gone inside with them until later that day, police said.

The woman said she called 911 as soon as she found the boy in the back of her SUV, police said.

The preliminary autopsy found that the boy died from heat, Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger said. Spartanburg reached a high of 92 degrees Wednesday.

Police said the investigation is ongoing but it appears that the boy’s death was accidental.

The boy, whose name was not released, was in foster care, Clevenger said. Authorities are working to reach his biological mother, he said.

This marks the sixth child to die in a hot car in the U.S. this year, according to national nonprofit Kids and Car Safety.

A record 54 children died in hot cars in 2018, followed by 53 fatalities in 2019, according to Kids and Car Safety. Twenty-five children died in hot cars last year, a drop which director Amber Rollins attributed to the pandemic.

“Hot car deaths continue to take place because nobody believes this could happen to them,” Janette Fennell, president of Kids and Car Safety, said in a statement. “The unfortunate reality is that this has happened to even the most loving, responsible, and attentive parents. Factors such as fatigue, stress, or a sudden change in routine can contribute to parents unknowingly leaving a child alone in a car.””
3-year-old boy dies after he’s left in hot car in South Carolina: Police
[ABC News 7/1/21 by Emily Shapiro]

“Many are mourning Jacob Bailey Mutis.

His aunt says the smiling little boy loved anything with wheels.

“Riding his red tricycle,” said Nancy Guthrie, Jacob’s aunt, “He’d try to steer it, but he didn’t know how to steer. So then Mikey got that thing where you could steer it for him, but he still thinks he’s doing it. And then he got a little older and got that yellow truck.”

Spartanburg Police report the 3-year-old was found dead in a hot car earlier this month.

Police say the foster parent had not noticed that Jacob hadn’t left the car for daycare like her other children.

Spartanburg police are investigating the boy’s death.

Several people tell WYFF News 4 they’re related to the boy’s biological father and said they were trying to adopt Jacob.

“Multiple family members…Savanna over there was trying to get him, we were trying to get him, Nancy, Robert…and here we are,” said Jonathan Costner, the cousin Jacob’s biological father, “DSS thought they knew what was best for the kid.”

South Carolina’s Department of Social Services released the following statement after the boy’s death:

“The Department of Social Services is aware of the child fatality in Spartanburg County and is conducting our own investigation as well as coordinating with local law enforcement. DSS Staff mourns the tragic loss of life of this child along with the child’s family.”

Costner says he grew up with his cousin, Michael, Jacob’s biological father.

He said Michael passed away in April.

“We wanted to make sure (Jacob) was with family and when he didn’t immediately go to his grandparents, and he wasn’t going with his aunt and uncle, I knew there was an issue and stepped in and wanted to be there they couldn’t get him,” said Jonathan, “But we never got the opportunity to get him.”

Jonathan said he was told by a case worker that Jacob had been in and out of foster care for the last 18 months.

He and his wife, Krista, said they started paperwork, got fingerprinted and sent calls and emails to DSS trying to move things forward.

They say they’re frustrated with the process, and can’t help but wonder if things could have been different for ‘Jakey.’”
Family of boy who died in hot car while in foster care call for change in system
[WISTV 7/12/21 by Renee Wunderlich]

 

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