How Could You? Hall of Shame-3-Year-old Foster Son case

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 Belleville, Illinois, a 3-year old foster son was “run over by a riding lawnmower.

It happened in rural Illinois, and the child now being treated for injuries in St. Louis.

The 3-year-old boy reportedly had part of his leg amputated once arriving at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, where the child’s biological family said they received a call that their loved one was backed over by a riding lawn mower while in foster care.

A biological relative, who only wanted to be identified by her first name Ashley, told FOX Files investigator Chris Hayes, “When I first heard what happened, I was on the phone with my other niece, and I just heard my mom screaming and hollering and I’m like, what’s going on? They were saying, he’s in critical condition.”

“That’s a relative of the child, who asked we only use her first name to protect the privacy of the child.

Illinois DCFS had planned for the child to move from foster care to his grandmother two months ago.

The grandma asked to speak off camera, also to protect privacy as she said, “They called us 15 hours later about my grandson being in the hospital and had to have amputation.”

The biological family showed us court records, including an Illinois DCFS transition plan on Aug. 6, 2026.

The 3-year-old was scheduled to move in with Grandma Aug. 10, 2026.

Ashley added, “We already have the other two siblings. And that’s what we’re all confused about. Every time we’re a step closer to getting him, they literally keep filing motions back-to-back-to-back.”

The foster parents in rural Marion County appealed the transition and the courts issued a stay, putting things on hold as that child was run over by a riding lawn mower. The child had to be extricated by firefighters and taken by air evac helicopter to St. Louis.

Ashley said, “I really want to know what happened, the truth.”

We’ve reached out to Illinois DCFS to get a response. We’ll track what happens in court.

The Marion County Sheriff told us it appears to be an accident and that the foster care family thought the child was inside when the riding lawn mower backed up over the child.

The biological family told us the child is being sedated and sleeping through what they said was a second operation today.”

3-year-old run over by riding lawnmower while in foster care

[FOC 2 10/9/26 b y Chris Hayes]

Once again, name the foster parents!

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