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DCF worker charged in death of 7-month-old

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from: www.wtnh.com

By News Channel 8's Annie Rourke

Posted July 17, 2008

Updated 4:10 PM

Mansfield (WTNH) _ A Mansfield woman who has worked at the Department of Children and Families for 15 years has been charged with manslaughter in the death of a 7-month-old boy.

Suzanne Listro, 42, showed little emotion as she was arraigned in Tolland Superior Court. The single mother claims she had turned her back for a moment when the foster child, 7-month-old Michael Brown, fell off a queen-sized bed onto linoleum tile. 

It happened in May at Listro's home on Stearns Road in Mansfield, where children's toys are still scattered across the lawn.

Listro passed inspection by an international adoption agency and also has a 3-year-old son Zachary.

"It's a very strict process," DCF Commissioner Susan Hamilton said. "We have very high standards for who can serve as a foster parent."

But, something slipped through the cracks.

In court prosecutors said, her account is inconsistent  and not believable.  The bed is two feet, two inches above the floor. The Medical Examiner has ruled that a fall would not cause the fatal blunt force trauma to the head.

Questions were also raised about Listro's mental health,  something that was not discovered by DCF. And, there were red flags.

"She had two prior investigations in 2006 and 2007 that were unsubstantiated," Hamilton said.

Two allegations that Listro had abused her adopted son, but that information was not passed on to those investigating Listro to be a foster parent.

The DCF Commissioner has now fired one worker and suspended a manager.  They are also doing a full review of their procedures but she wants to reassure the public that children in state care will be properly cared for.

"In any way shape or form represent the quality of the foster parents that we have who really, you know, provide safe and loving care to kids," Hamilton said.

Listro's son is now in the care of her sister in Massachusetts.  Listro will be back in court next Friday. The Office of the Child Advocate also had some strong words for DCF Thursday -- they are also investigating the matter.

Listro will be in court again July 25th.

2008 Jul 17