Boy, 4, Dies While In Foster Care

Child Goes Into Cardiac Arrest

BOSTON -- Authorities are investigating the sudden death of a 4-year-old boy who was in the custody of the Department of Social Services.

NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that Dontel Jeffers was rushed to the hospital Sunday by his foster family, where he died. DSS officials and police are trying to find answers about the child's death.

Dontel was brought to the foster home in Dorchester about 10 days ago. His father was incarcerated about one year ago and then deported. His mother is in a drug rehabilitation facility.

"We are the family for Dontel, and DSS took Dontel and sent him to a person that he doesn't know -- no family members there. They just separated us totally. It's devastating to us," Dontel's aunt, Phillipa Jeffers, said.

"They sent him to a foster home, and now we get a phone call today that he's dead," Dontel's cousin, Vincent James, said.

Dontel's relatives said that Dontel was removed from his home three months ago. Jeffers and James said that they visited Dontel two to three times a week. Last week, they were informed that he was taken to a foster home, but were not given the address.

"Our condolences go out to the family. Our apologies and regrets for whatever part we come to learn we played in that. Even if none, our deep apologies go out," DSS Commissioner Harry Spence said.

Spence said that the child had been jumping on a bed with another child on Saturday. The foster mother found him unresponsive Sunday morning.

"As we understand it, the child's heart had stopped. That was the immediate cause of death. I think one of the questions that now lies behind that is what led to that heart failure," Spence said.

He confirmed that there were a number of bruises on Dontel.