Caseworker from fatal foster placement still monitoring dead boy's sister

Crocker Stephenson

The Journal Sentinel

The caseworker responsible for Christopher Thomas's sister, who police say was tortured for months by the children's foster parent, remains assigned to the girl's case, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has learned.

The aunt, Crystal Keith, was charged last month with beating 13-month-old Christopher to death and with abusing his two-year-old sister. According to a police report, Keith began abusing the girl as soon as officials placed the children in her home in June for foster care.

A doctor who examined the girl, whose injuries included repeated scalding, multiple broken bones and ligature scars – called her wounds blatant, and she spent weeks in the hospital after she was taken from Keith's home after Christopher's death Nov. 11.

The Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare has yet to explain how the caseworker could have visited the child for months and not noticed her condition.

The little girl is recovering well, and remains in state custody at an undisclosed location, according to her great-grandparents, Katherine and Frank Shaw.

The Shaws, who live in Alabama, are returning home Sunday, and Katherine Shaw said she wants the caseworker removed.

"They failed me once," Katherine Shaw said.

"Who can say they won't fail me twice."

At a meeting earlier in the day, state child protection officials would not comment on the status of the caseworker who had been involved with Christopher and his sister.