Lawsuit: Foster Home Starved Boy, 10, To Death
Lawsuit: Foster Home Starved Boy, 10, To Death
November 3, 2008
DETROIT -- A Detroit mother is filing a $30 million lawsuit against a foster care home after the home allegedly starved her 10-year-old wheelchair-bound quadriplegic son to death.
The Wayne County Medical Examiner said Johnny Dragomir, who was born with cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia, died on March 9, 2007 of a caloric protein malnutrition and had no food or liquid in his stomach at the time of his death.
"The facts in this case are crystal clear -- Johnny starved to death," said Arnold E. Reed, the lawyer hired by the boy's family.
Dragomir's mother, Elena Andron, was unable to care for her son after she lost her job two years ago and turned to the state for help. Andron never gave up her parental rights, but the state made Dragomir a temporary ward of the state and placed him in the custody of the Monroe Foster Care in Detroit.
Andron said after eight months at the foster care center, her son, who weighed 80 pounds when he went to the home, had lost more than 40 pounds and his body mass index was dangerously low at 13.
On March 9, 2007, the child was found dead on the floor beside his bed.
"I am hurt and angry. I want some justice," said an emotional Andron.
Reed said according to the foster home's food chart for the child, there were nearly 500 blank entries from Jan. 26, 2006, to Mar. 9, 2007. Reed said the child was not fed at least that many times.
"My calculations say that for 180 days they didn't feed him," said Reed.
The boy's mother said she complained several times about the starvation but that nothing was done.
"All they (Monroe Foster Care Center) were interested in was getting a monthly check," said Reed. "It is a sad day in this world when money takes precedence over life."
Reed filed the $30 million lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court Monday against the foster care home and at least eight other people, including a registered nurse and a dietitian who worked with the child.
"This was an innocent kid who did not deserve to die in this matter," said Reed.
No criminal charges were ever filed against the foster care home.
Local 4 contacted the foster care home in Detroit and the owner's son said he was not aware of a lawsuit.
The man's mother, Regina Henderson, ran the foster care home, which is no longer open. Local 4 is waiting for Henderson to comment on the lawsuit.
Reed said when he interviewed the people at the foster care home they backtracked and tried to cover their tracks.