CARROLL BOY FAINTS DURING VISITATION

CARROLL BOY FAINTS DURING VISITATION

AGENCY BLAMES HEAT, EXCITEMENT

August 27, 1993

Janice Haidet

One of two children removed from a Cedarville family while authorities probe the death of one of the family's adopted children has been hospitalized.

Isaiah Carroll, 11, was listed in good condition in Children's Medical Center on Thursday. The youth was taken to the hospital during a scheduled weekly visit on Wednesday with his parents, Kathleen and Timothy Carroll, and their pastor at the Greene County Children Services office, 651 Dayton-Xenia Road.

Mary Ann Paloncy, executive director of Greene County Children Services Board, said Isaiah was sitting on the lap of the family's pastor, Wesley Brubaker, when the minister noticed the child had become "unresponsive and limp."

Kathleen Carroll noticed that the child's eyes were fluttering. The symptoms persisted for about 30 seconds, Paloncy said. She attributed the illness to the hot weather and the excitement of the visit.

But Mrs. Carroll's lawyer, John H. Rion of Dayton, blames it on "inadequate care" the child is receiving while in the agency's custody.

Paloncy said Isaiah's needs are being assessed. Doctors on Thursday hadn't determined what caused the child to become faint. Isaiah has a cerebral-palsy type disorder that impairs his movement.

Paramedics summoned to the scene believed Isaiah would be OK, Paloncy said, but she insisted that he be taken to Greene Memorial Hospital. He was later transferred to Children's.

"Because of the nature of this case, just as a precaution, that's what I felt we had to do," she said. "We cannot, because we now have custody of this child, overlook anything like this."

On Aug. 17, Visiting Judge Richard T. Cole gave Children Services emergency temporary custody of Isaiah and 5-year-old Samuel after repeated concerns were raised about the children's safety and well-being. Five of 10 adopted children have died in nine months. The oldest son James Carroll, 17, has been charged with delinquency by reason of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the bleach-burning death of his adopted sister Hannah, 6.

In another development, Greene County Assistant Prosecutor Suzanne Schmidt has asked that the children's court-appointed advocate be removed from the case.

Schmidt said state law provides for an advocate for children who have been determined to be abused or neglected. Because the Carroll children have not been judged as abused or neglected, Schmidt said it's unnecessary.

But Stephen A. Bogenschutz of Cedarville, the attorney selected as the advocate, disagrees. Judge Cole will deal with the issue at a hearing set for Monday in Greene County Juvenile Court.