State Blames Private Agency For Foster Child Death

Jack Fink

CBS Channel 11

The State claims the company that licensed a Desoto foster home, Therapeutic Family Life, made six violations that led to the death of six-year-old Katherine Frances.

Marissa Gonazles of Child Protective Services says, "This private agency did not fulfill its responsibility to place these children in a safe environment and that directly contributed to the death of the child."

In the report, child care licensing investigators say Therapeutic Family Life knew the foster parents left Frances and her three siblings alone with their teenage son, who's now accused in the child's death.

The State also says the company was aware the teenager was accused of previously harming the foster children.

But investigators found, "despite all of this, Therapeutic Family Life failed to make arrangements for qualified childcare for these four children, and indeed didn't address the issue in any way."

Gonzales says, "There's no evidence or any documentation that any information was passed to the department about any wrong-doing in the house."

The company's attorney, Eli Bell says, "The State doesn't have its facts right," and that they will appeal.

The report also calls the foster parents, "irresponsible people incapable of meeting the needs of the four foster children."

The foster parents have declined comment all along.

Joyce Burk, the foster mother, was arrested early Friday morning at her workplace, and charged with child endangerment.

The State can't explain why the children weren't permanently removed before Frances died.

One week earlier, records show Frances was taken to the hospital. She had been badly bruised. But Gonazles says the State allowed the six-year-old to be returned to her foster parents after they agreed to watch them at all times.

"Everyone had a responsibility in the decision to return the child to the house,” she said. “Unfortunately it had tragic consequences."

The State could try to force Therapeutic Family Life to surrender all of the foster homes it licenses.

Next week, a judge will consider trying the 14-year-old boy as an adult.