How Could You? Hall of Shame- Bryson Lowell case-Child Death UPDATED

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 Fletcher, Oklahoma, Heather Valentine Adams, a 24-year-old foster mom  “is in jail following an infant’s death Sunday night that is currently being investigated as a homicide.

County investigators say they were called to the Elgin Fire Department Sunday night where the baby was taken, shortly after the suspect’s husband found the boy unconscious inside their Fletcher home.

The suspect and victim’s names have not yet been released, but we do know the woman was the baby’s foster parent.

Sheriff Kenny Stradley says the husband of the suspect found the baby unconscious at their home in Fletcher and rushed the infant to the Elgin Fire Department, where first responders tried to resuscitate him.

“The baby was not breathing and they were trying, and they got a little bit of the baby breathing and went ahead and took it on to the hospital. They worked on it quite a while up there,” said Sheriff Stradley.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to the fire station and questioned the husband about what happened.

“He just made the statement that, ‘my wife had hurt the baby’,” said Sheriff Stradley.

The baby later died in the ER at Comanche County Memorial Hospital. The Comanche County Sheriff’s Department is now waiting on the exact cause of death from the medical examiner, but his injuries were suspicious.

“It looks like the baby was hit several times in the head. Possibly with a fist,” said Sheriff Stradley.

The two were foster parents for the victim and his 7-month-old baby brother. That boy is now in DHS care, and Sheriff Stradley says the brother had no signs of injury. He says a child’s death is always difficult to investigate, and will do everything in their power to seek the truth.

“This child can’t speak for itself, it can’t do anything because it was two-years-old. So, we try to make sure everything is done right, investigation is done right and nothing else for that child that we did it right and justice will prevail,” said Sheriff Stradley.

The sheriff says his investigators were at the woman’s home until around 5:00 a.m. Monday collecting evidence. They do not expect to present a case to the District Attorney for a day or two.

Foster parent in jail following infant’s death[KSWO 3/16/15 by Dylan Stephens]

“An Oklahoma woman is in jail following the death of a toddler in her care.

Authorities say the woman who is believed to be responsible for the child’s death is the baby’s foster parent.

Sheriff Kenny Stradley, with the Comanche County Sheriff’s Office, says the husband of the alleged suspect found the boy unconscious in their home and rushed the toddler to the Elgin Fire Department.

“He just made a statement that, ‘My wife hurt the baby,” Stradley said.

First responders tried to resuscitate the boy, but he later died at Comanche County Memorial Hospital.

The sheriff’s department is now waiting on the victim’s exact cause of death from the medical examiner.

However, the case is being investigated as a homicide.

“This child can’t speak for itself. It can’t do anything because it was 2-years-old. So, we try to make sure everything is done right, investigation is done right, and nothing else for that child that we did it right and justice will prevail,” he said.

The couple were foster parents for the victim and his 7-month-old brother.

That child is now in the care of DHS, but he was not suffering from any injuries.

The foster mother, 24-year-old Heather Valentine Adams, was taken into custody on a complaint of second-degree murder.”

“My wife hurt the baby,” Oklahoma foster mother arrested following death of 2-year-old boy[KFOR3/17/15 ]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: “Investigators have identified the suspect in the death of a foster child as 24-year-old Heather Adams, the child’s foster mother.

Adams is in jail on a complaint of second-degree murder, but she has not been charged. Adams was arrested Monday, shortly after her husband found the child unconscious in their Fletcher home. The baby was taken to Comanche County Memorial Hospital where he later died.

Tuesday, the agency that trained Adams to be a foster parent, Tallgrass Family Services, says they’re working to make sure nothing like this happens again.

Not just anyone can be a foster parent. They have a background check that goes beyond criminal, like a health check to see if they can physically and emotionally handle it. The checks have to be taken yearly. They also have to have at least 6 references, most have around 15.

The training consists of small groups that have video training on how to handle the stress that comes with being a foster parent and how to handle trauma. Then, when they pass, Tallgrass doesn’t stop there. They say they do in-house checks monthly and they call new foster parents at least every other day.

“Everyone is deeply shocked and heartbroken by the tragic death of a child,” said Jeanette Owens, director of Tallgrass Family Services.

Owens says they have been one of three agencies used by Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services to recruit, train and support foster parents since 2013. She says first thing Monday morning, Tallgrass started looking at what they can do to make sure this death is an isolated situation.

“We definitely, as an agency, our staff has dedicated their lives and their careers to make sure we are helping children and families. So yeah, we do everything we can to prevent,” said Owens.

Owens didn’t have an answer as to how something like this could happen, just that they are working with law enforcement and DHS.

“There are dedicated people inside and outside of our organization working diligently to find answers as to what happened. We are committed to the safety of the children we serve,” said Owens.

One thing Owens doesn’t want from this tragic situation is for all foster parents to be lumped into one category.

“There’s not typically a day that goes by that I don’t hear a heartwarming story of something one of our parents have done to go above and beyond,” said Owens.

Owens says they want to make sure any changes to their policies are the right ones. So, they don’t expect any to happen for a few weeks.

The state Department of Human Services also makes monthly visits to foster homes. They released a statement Tuesday about the 2-year-old’s death, which said,

Sheriff Kenny Stradley says his investigators are still conducting interviews and hopes to present a case to the District Attorney’s office by the end of the week.”

Suspect’s name in foster child’s death released[KWSO 3/24/15 by Dylan Stephens]

“A Comanche County woman faces one first degree murder charge after her two year old foster son died Sunday evening.

Heather Adams, 24, currently resides in the Comanche County Detention Center, on a $150,000 bond.

The victim’s birth mother met with KFOR, and claims the Department of Human Services (DHS) let her down.

“They gave my child to somebody who killed him,” said Andrea Lowell.

The news of Bryson Lowell’s death broke Sunday evening, but his mother says she didn’t find out until Thursday.

Bryson and his seven-month-old brother had been in the care of Heather and Tyler Adams since October.

They were placed by DHS, allegedly because health officials found evidence of child abuse with the infant son. But the family maintains his injuries were accidental.

“He had a hematoma on the back of his head…they said that was shaken baby [syndrome],” said Andrea. “The foster parents that they were with, they seemed like good people.”

According to court records, a non responsive Bryson was found by Tyler a little after 7:30 p.m. in their home.

Heather later told investigators, she hit the juvenile ‘with a closed fist’.

“He’s gone, all because the state said that she was suitable…and she’s not,” said Andrea.

KFOR contacted DHS, who forwarded us to Tallgrass Family Services, the group that trained Heather to be a foster mother.

Tallgrass sent the following statement:

“Everyone is deeply shocked and heartbroken by the tragic death of a child.  We are working closely with law enforcement and the Department of Human Services to fully cooperate with the investigation. Because of the ongoing criminal investigation, we cannot discuss specifics of this case, but we can assure you there are dedicated people inside and outside of our organization working diligently to find answers as to what happened.  We are committed to the safety of the children we serve and hope to learn information that can help us prevent such a tragedy from happening again.” 

Bryson’s infant sibling was removed from the home, and remains in DHS custody despite Andrea’s concerns.

“I want my other son before he ends up dead too.”’

“They gave my child to somebody who killed him,” mother outraged after son is allegedly killed by foster parent[KFOr 3/20/15 by Adam Snider]

Update 2: A search of the Oklahoma court records says that Heather on December 1, 2015 entered a plea of not guilty. A trial has been set for  5-13-16.

Update 3:“A Fletcher woman accused of killing a foster child in her care pleaded guilty to the crime.

Heather Valentine Adams pleaded guilty Monday to hitting the young child in the head and body, ultimately killing the child, on March 15, 2015.

Her husband told investigators he found the child on the floor, unconscious and not breathing. Adams’ husband rushed the child to the Elgin Fire Department and first responders tried to resuscitate the child.

The child’s 7-month-old brother was placed in DHS care. Adams and her husband were fostering the two children.

She was originally charged with first-degree murder, but it was amended to second-degree murder. Second-degree murder comes with a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and at least 85 percent must be served.

Adams will be sentenced June 16 at 9 a.m.”

Fletcher woman pleads guilty to killing foster child [KSWO 4/18/16]

Update 4:”A 25-year-old Fletcher woman has received a prison sentence in connection with the 2015 death of a foster child.

Heather Adams was sentenced Thursday by District Judge Emmit Tayloe to 30 years in prison with 10 years suspended for second-degree murder in connection with the death of a 2-year-old child that occurred March 15, 2015, at a rural Comanche County residence near Fletcher. She was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, $2,108.38 in restitution and serve two years of Department of Corrections supervision. She will receive credit for time served. Adams entered a guilty plea to the charge on April 18.

The male victim was a foster child of Adams and her husband, a Fort Sill solider.

According to a report from the Comanche County Sheriff’s Office, Adams  hit the child and her husband found him on the floor not breathing. After an attempt to revive the boy failed, the husband brought him to the Elgin Fire Department for help and the child was taken to a Lawton hospital where he was pronounced dead an hour later.

The victim and his 7-month-old brother had been placed in the care of Adams and her husband by the Department of Human Services on March 5, 2015. Following the victim’s death, the infant was removed from the home and placed back into DHS custody.”

Woman Gets Prison In Death Of Foster Child[The Lawton Constitution 6/17/16 by Mark Potter]