How Could You? Hall of Shame-Skylar Magana 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 Albuquerque, New Mexico, 10-month-old foster child, Skylar Magana, died on June 21, 2025 while in CYFD custody.
“A baby taken to the hospital Monday, in a case police are investigating as child abuse, has died.
Her mom, Nancy Magana, didn’t get much of a chance to know her daughter, Skylar. The 10-month-old girl was in Children, Youth & Families Department custody and living with a foster family.
“I don’t think I can cry anymore,” Magana said. “I don’t know what to feel. I’m angry, I’m hurt, I’m upset.”
Magana hadn’t seen Skylar since September 2024, until she got a call from CYFD this week.
“Told me that she was in critical condition and if I could please meet a caseworker at the hospital, and I didn’t think it was as serious as it is at all,” she said.
When she got there, she said her baby was brain dead and breathing on a ventilator. She said, according to the caseworker, Skylar was found with no pulse. Police investigated the case as child abuse at a home on Krim Drive in northeast Albuquerque Monday.
Magana said she lost custody of Skylar shortly after her birth in August 2024. She struggles with addiction, and the baby was exposed to methamphetamine during the pregnancy.
Even after her baby was born, Magana said it was tough to get sober, but she was ready to try again. After living in her car, she recently started staying at a friend’s house.
“She told me I can stay there, and she would help me get my daughter back if I needed to get clean. She would help me, she would support me, and this was not even days before I got the call she was in the hospital,” said Magana.
Now she doesn’t have the chance to get her daughter back.
“They took her out of my custody and told me I wasn’t a fit parent and yet if she were in my care this wouldn’t have happened,” she said.
Nobody has been charged in the case and because it’s still an active investigation, police are not sharing what caused the baby’s injuries.
CYFD’s Director of Public Affairs, Jennifer Webber, sent us the following statement about the incident:
“We are heartbroken by the tragic death of this innocent child. Due to the ongoing investigation, there is limited information we can share about this case. However, in general, when a child enters state custody, especially in cases involving substance exposure at birth, CYFD’s goal is to ensure the safety of the child. If appropriate, CYFD works toward reunification with the biological family when it is safe. This includes making efforts to maintain contact and communication with parents and providing opportunities for visitation and updates on the child’s well-being unless there are court-ordered limitations or safety concerns that prevent this. CYFD, attorneys, and the Court monitor the progress and compliance of parents during this time.”
Oh please! Clearly you didn’t give the foster family a “good” homestudy!Give the foster family’s name!How dare you protect them! 
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Skylar was my great, great grandbaby. We were investigating who had her, because a family member wanted to adopt her. The caseworker/supervisor in baby’s case said she never received a an email. an email was sent to her on may 16,2025 by another staff member from CYFD. Yes my grand daughter was on drugs, but skylar would have been better off with family. as far as I know. none of us family were told she was there from the beginning. I later found out. My poor baby at the hands of a killer woman and why is my question.