How Could You? Hall of Shame-Arianna Ehlers 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.

This is a 2022 case.

From Salt Lake City, Utah, Arianna Ehlers, 18, died on May 26, 2022 from a seizure while in a facility of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

Arianna’s mother “says answers to those questions could shed light not just on the circumstances of her daughter’s death, but on whether other children and teenagers with disabilities are safe in homes and facilities overseen by the state.”

“The teenager had epilepsy and often had seizures in her sleep. Ehlers says her daughter needed monitoring throughout the night.

Her autopsy report says she died of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.

Before her daughter’s death, Ehlers said Arianna was concerned about her sleeping arrangement at a group home in Holladay.”

“DHHS noted the teenager’s caretaker checked on her about three hours before finding her unresponsive, according to a document in her case file.

“Whenever a person receiving services from our department passes away, we all grieve,” a DHHS spokesperson added in an email. The agency noted records it released to KSL don’t reference a recommendation for close overnight monitoring.

But Ehlers said she referenced a need for such monitoring in conversations with Arianna’s caretaker and employees of DCFS.

And she told KSL she believes if someone was sleeping on the same floor and noticed her daughter was having the seizure, she might still be alive.

Arianna’s medical records show prior caretakers at a different facility several years earlier were close enough to notice her having seizures. It happened at least 10 times, with employees intervening, often turning her on her side.

So, her mother said she’s left to wonder why her daughter was alone at the new home.

Nate Crippes with the Disability Law Center in Salt Lake City said while there’s some information the state must keep under wraps, a parent should have greater access than most.

He said the state has an obligation to find out more than just what happened, but to take a close look at whether any systemic failures were at play.

“Without transparency, without effective oversight, I don’t know if we can know that it won’t happen again,” Crippes said.

When someone dies while in its care, the state investigates and produces a fatality review. But few people are allowed to see it.

Five state lawmakers on Utah’s child welfare oversight panel review these cases each year, but Utah law keeps that record secret from the public. DHHS says that means even Arianna’s mother can’t see it.”

“Those inside reviews found the two agencies in charge of Arianna’s care – DCFS and the Division of Services for People with Disabilities – had repeat problems communicating the year she died and the year after, reporting necessary information was not relayed.”

What did Utah learn from a teen’s death in state custody? Her mother may never find out.
[KSL 2/18/25 by Annie Knox and Daniella Rivera]

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