China Marie Davis

--Arizona

China Marie Davis entered Arizona's foster care system when she was a little over a year old.

During her 11 months in the care of Dorothy Livingston, her state-designated caretaker, China Marie suffered a dozen broken bones. She died in October 1993 after Livingston repeatedly kicked her down a staircase because China Marie refused to clap her hands to gospel music.

An autopsy revealed that China Marie suffered a compression fracture of the spine, breaks in both forearms and wrists, two broken collarbones, fractures of both thighs, and a broken left arm, right rib and left hand while in Livingston's care.

Witnesses in the foster mother's trial testified that Livingston slammed China Marie onto the toilet because she wasn't potty training fast enough, and threw her forcefully into the tub because she would not cooperate.

No one suspected anything was wrong, it seems, because Livingston always dressed her in such pretty outfits.

Livingston herself was something of a Frankenstein's monster created by the child welfare system. For two years, her foster father would pick her up from her job and rape her in the car. He also raped her when they were alone together at home. When she told her foster mother about the sexual abuse, the woman did not believe her and accused her of being retarded.

Phoenix Detective Francesca Anatra told court officials she was appalled at Livingston's lack of remorse or sorrow after China's death. Anatra also voiced concerns about an agency that would allow a woman with Livingston's past to become a foster parent.

It was through death that China Marie came to be reunited with one of her loving parents, according to her mother, Kelly Harris Davis.

"Today is one of the happiest days of my life. It's also one of the saddest," said Davis, whose husband had died earlier that year.

"He and China are walking hand in hand now."

Sources:

Clint Williams and Norm Parish, "Few Grown-Ups Wanted to Bother With China Marie Davis," The Arizona Republic, April 9, 1994.

Victoria Harker, "Foster Mom Sentenced to Life Term," The Arizona Republic, November 5, 1997.

NCCPR Issue Paper #3, "They Erred on the Side of the Child -- Some Case Histories," National Coalition for Child Protection Reform.