Lawmakers Want Review After Infant’s Death
Lawmakers Want Review After Infant’s Death
Tom Murray
MILWAUKEE - Questions are being raised about the state system set up to protect 1-year-old Christopher Thomas, the infant who died in his aunt and uncle’s foster care.
Temporary foster parents Darlene and Robert Logan of West Allis took care of Thomas last spring. They believe the system failed this baby.
"No one should have to suffer like that,” said Darlene.
A newly released Medical Examiner's report reveals Christopher and his 2-year-old sister endured repeated torture while in their aunt and uncle's care.
The aunt, Crystal Keith, is charged with causing the boys death by choking him. His sister, now at Children's Hospital, suffers from scalding burns and broken bones.
"I can't believe this thing went this long and the kids weren't checked," said Robert Logan.
The Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare was supposed to check on Christopher and his sister every month. However, a caseworker told investigators the agency last visited on September 23. Milwaukee Police found Christopher on the brink of death this week, 48 days after the last inspection.
State Senator Alberta Darling (R-Menomonee Falls) is calling for a review. She serves on the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare Milwaukee Child Welfare Partnership Council.
“That social worker did not make that monthly visit and that is a concern,” Darling told TODAY’S TMJ4 reporter Tom Murray. "We have to find out if this is an exception or does this happen more than we know."
Refusing an on-camera response, BCWM told us in an e-mail that internal and outside reviews "will identify any changes to practice that may be needed to prevent future incidents from occurring."
State Representative Josh Zepnick (D-Milwaukee) is calling for a “top to bottom” review of the process used to choose and place children with foster parents. He believes what happened to Christopher Thomas may be a result of under funded welfare services.
Christopher’s funeral will be held Wednesday at Serenity Funeral Home, 4217 W. Fond du Lac Ave., at 9 a.m. The owner told TODAY’S TMJ4 that will cover costs not covered by the state.