How Could You? Hall of Shame-Dereon Kai Booze 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 Maryland, foster child, Dereon Kai Booze, 14 months died on February 9, 2026, when he was placed with a temporary foster caregiver.

“An investigation by the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services concluded that neglect was “indicated” on the part of a licensed caregiver with whom Welter left Kai while she was on an out-of-town trip to celebrate her 40th birthday. Kai’s death raises questions about the vetting of temporary foster placements and how the children in their care are monitored and protected. His foster mother, who was in the process of adopting him, is pressing for answers about how a healthy baby ended up dead while in the care of a provider approved by the child welfare system.”

[Baltimore Sun 4/27/26 by Surya Vaidy]

“A caregiver was negligent for failing to seek medical attention or even take the temperature of a 14-month-old foster boy who was “very warm and lethargic” and refused to eat or drink for about three days before his death, Prince George’s social services officials said in an investigative report obtained by The Baltimore Sun.

The partially redacted document, received via a Maryland Public Information Act request, provided new details about the Feb. 9 death of the boy, who was in respite foster care while his foster mother, Katy Welter, 40, of Hyattsville, was out of town.”

“The report confirms the finding of neglect, which the Prince George’s Department of Social Services informed Welter of in an April letter. She was also previously told that the boy, Dereon Kai Booze, had died of dehydration as a result of RSV.”

Caregiver negligent in death of 14-month-old Maryland foster child, report says

[Yahoo news 7/8/26 by Jean Marbella, Baltimore Sun]

No name of the caregiver was given.

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