How Could You? Hall of Shame-Quentrell Whitsell 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.

A 2020 case has come to light.

From Toledo, Ohio, “Quentrell Whitsell was just 4 months old when his lifeless body was found in a baby swing at a Toledo daycare center [o]n March [19], 2020.

The infant’s death is now the subject of a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Toledo by his parents, Jamie Redmond and Quenton Whitsell, who allege Lucas County Children Services failed to ensure their son received medical treatment following a car accident and allowed him to attend Dana Mikonowicz Day Care, a center with a history of failing to comply with care standards.

Named in the suit are LCCS executive director Robin Reese, several LCCS caseworkers and an investigator, Quentrell’s foster mother Rochelle Nix, and Dana Mikonowicz, owner of the eponymous daycare center located at … Drive.

Also included are 10 unnamed individuals working for either LCCS or Dana Mikonowicz Day Care, whose names may be added upon the completion of discovery, the complaint contends.

LCCS is a government agency tasked with investigating reports of suspected child abuse and neglect, as well as with providing services for families in need. In cases of abuse or neglect, LCCS is empowered to remove children from their homes and place them in a safe environment until the family can be safely reunified.

“Ms. Redmond and Mr. Whitsell were not treated fairly by LCCS. I was one of the believers in LCCS as being all about the children, but their practices don’t always support the reunification of families. The neglect and the recklessness of LCCS led to this child’s death,” Hassanayn Joseph, who represents the plaintiffs, told The Blade Monday.

In October, 2018, Ms. Redmond was indicted by a Lucas County grand jury on a sole charge of endangering children, a third-degree felony. The charge triggered LCCS to remove her older son, J.C., from her home, though the child was not the alleged victim in the state’s case, according to court documents.

Although the charge against Ms. Redmond was dismissed in June, 2019, J.C. remained in foster care. Ms. Redmond began to push LCCS for custody of the child without success.

During this time, Ms. Redmond, newly pregnant, was placed temporarily in a women’s shelter after becoming the victim of domestic violence, the complaint states. She was later moved to long-term housing at Family House…”

“On Nov. 15, 2019, Ms. Redmond gave birth to Quentrell. She believed she’d be able to take her son home, but shortly after delivery, the mother was informed by LCCS that it was against their policy to allow her to take the infant to live in a domestic violence shelter, the complaint states.

Just six days after Quentrell’s birth, a custody hearing was held in Lucas County Juvenile Court, where LCCS caseworker Nicholas Good, a named defendant in Ms. Redmond’s lawsuit, testified that Quentrell was taken away from his mother for “mental health, physical abuse, and housing” reasons.

Ms. Redmond did not attend the hearing and claims she was unaware it was taking place.

Quentrell was placed in the custody of his foster mother Ms. Nix. Ms. Redmond subsequently claimed she began to see myriad issues with the care of her son. During one visit, she reported he “lacked sufficient clothing” and “was brought to the visits without enough food.” On another occasion, she found blood and visible signs of a diaper rash while changing Quentrell.

Ms. Redmond repeatedly raised these concerns to LCCS caseworkers, but claims nothing was done. Quentrell remained in the care of Ms. Nix, who enrolled him in Dana Mikonowicz’ Day Care with vouchers provided by LCCS.

On Feb. 21, 2020, Ms. Mikonowicz was driving with Quentrell in the car when she was involved in an accident at the intersection of Yondota Street and Nevada Street in Toledo. Ms. Mikonowicz’s car was “extensively damaged and airbags deployed,” the complaint states.

While responding EMS were assured by the daycare center owner that she would promptly bring Quentrell to the emergency room to be evaluated, she failed to do so.

Instead, she returned with the infant to her daycare center and no LCCS caseworkers followed up or investigated, the complaint states.

“There was no justification for the delay in the treatment of Quentrell and the failure to do so put him in continuous harm,” the complaint states.

It wasn’t until 28 hours later that Quentrell saw a doctor, when Ms. Nix brought him to the University of Toledo Medical Center’s emergency room, the complaint alleges. Ms. Nix told doctors that Quentrell had been “cleared to go home” by EMS at the site of the crash. The infant was discharged, but Ms. Nix was told she needed to follow up with a physician within 48 hours. She failed to do so.

“Neither [LCCS] nor its agents … scheduled or made sure an appointment was scheduled as instructed by the emergency room treating physician,” the complaint reads.

Ms. Mikonowicz denied that Quentrell was in need of emergent help after the accident. She was hit by another driver who ran a stop sign, she said, noting that Quentrell left the scene of the accident that day with his foster mother after he was cleared by first responders.

“Nothing that I or anybody else did caused the death of that baby,” Ms. Mikonowicz said. “I took care of him every single day, as did the foster mother.”

On March 19, 2020, Ms. Redmond was informed that her son had died. He had been found in a baby swing in the living room of Ms. Mikonowicz’s daycare center in a position that according to the complaint “can result in death to a child Quentrell’s age.”

A subsequent report found that Ms. Mikonowicz had a history of failing to meet appropriate childcare standards but had continued to contract with LCCS, the complaint alleges.

“As Quentrell slowly died in his swing, Defendant Lucas County Children Services and its employees, agents, and/or representatives, ignored the cries for help made by Plaintiff Redmond,” Ms. Redmond’s complaint reads.

Ms. Mikonowicz said those claims were false, that an inspector evaluates her business biannually, and that her license remains in good standing.

The Lucas County Coroner’s Office was unable to determine the cause of Quentrell’s death, ruling it a sudden unexpected infant death.

According to the complaint, LCCS failed to notify the prosecutor’s office or the police to investigate the infant’s death.

A week after Quentrell’s death, Ms. Redmond’s older son J.C. was returned to her custody, ahead of schedule. LCCS ultimately dismissed their complaint against Ms. Redmond.

Despite this, in December, 2021, Ms. Redmond’s third son, Q. W., was taken from her custody at birth by LCCS officials who told the mother she was on a “watchlist,” Ms. Redmond’s complaint alleges. He remains in the custody of LCCS, Mr. Joseph said.

“Terminating a parent’s rights is the death penalty of child custody cases and Lucas County Children Services is doing it way too often,” Mr. Joseph said. “Ms. Redmond has been active. She goes above and beyond to meet requests but she’s always met with more.”

On March 14, Ms. Redmond alongside Mr. Whitsell filed a lawsuit against LCCS and others in Lucas County Common Pleas. The suit was transferred to federal court this week.

The defendants will now be given a chance to respond to Ms. Redmond and Mr. Whitsell’s claims.

Julie Malkin, an LCCS spokesperson, declined to comment on behalf of the agency.

“We do not comment on pending litigation,” she said.”

Parents sue Lucas County Children Services after 4-month-old dies in foster care
[Toledo Blade 5/2/22 by Ellie Buerk]

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