How Could You? Hall of Shame-Canada-Oliver Ratchford 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 Victoria, Canada, foster son Oliver Ratchford , 6, drown on February 28, 2024. “Ratchford says her son, Oliver, and eight-year-old sister, Lucy, were taken into foster care on Thursday, Feb. 22. She says no one from the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) has explained why her children were taken.

Four days later, on Monday, she got the call that Oliver was unresponsive.”

“And though medical staff tried, Oliver never woke up. His heart stopped beating at 3:55 a.m. Wednesday morning.

“He’s gone because someone didn’t put a fence around his pond or pool or supervise these children. How does that happen?” asked Hopkins.

It’s a question that’s echoed by Oliver’s mom.

“They took my baby. They killed him…MCFD killed my son,” Ratchford said. “How is this child protection? How is this right? How is this the government’s idea of what safety is?””

“MCFD told CHEK News that foster parents undergo thorough background checks and home safety assessments, but can’t speak to this specific case due to privacy.

“What I can say is that as a minister and as a mom it’s my expectation that our ministry, if a child dies in care, is doing everything to get to the truth of what happened – and how – so we’re able to take any and all actions to keep youth safe and protected,” said Grace Lore, Minister for Children and Family Development

The BC Coroner’s Service confirmed that their agency was notified “and is in the very early stages on investigating this death.”

Hopkins says there should be other interventions available to families who are struggling before children are taken from their homes.

“Give them a little help, that’s all. We should be able to give them that. Our government should be able to do that,” said Hopkins.”
‘How does that happen?’ Victoria family says 6-year-old son drowned in foster care
[Chek News 2/29/24]

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