Nicolas Zavala was placed in the custody of his grandmother Margaret E. Williams by Illinois DCFS after living in several foster homes. 6 months later, in Aug 2002, he disappeared. His skeletal remains were found in April 2003. No one has been charged in his murder.
His grandmother was convicted of felony neglect for administering excessive punishments. Nicolas was forced to kneel on a broomstick for 2 hours while holding heavy objects hands and to lean his forehead against a wall for several hours with his body at an incline and his feet two to three feet from the wall. Nicolas Uncle Miguel Campos who lived with the family at the time also participated in the discipline.
Mrs Williams homestudy was incomplete, did not include 2000 child abuse misdemeanors, and she sis not attend foster training. No one followed up to remove the child after Indiana refused the placement with Willaims

Date: 2002-08-04

Placement type: Foster care

Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation, Death by unknown cause

Abuser: Other family member, Undetermined

Location

Oxford, Indiana
United States

See map: Google Maps