2 kids died in care of foster mom
2 kids died in care of foster mom
Hearing looks into case of boy tied to a bucket
JACK KRESNAK and M.L. ELRICK
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS Thursday, 11/4/1999
The investigation of a Detroit woman whose half-naked 9-year-old disabled son was found tied to a plastic bucket partially filled with urine was expanded Wednesday to include a review of the deaths of two children in the woman's care.
Natural causes had been listed for the deaths of 4-month-old Ieisha Dyson, who died in January 1993 after being born with a significant birth defect, and of DuJuan Miller, a baby who died in April 1995.
The two were among dozens of foster children who have been cared for by Emily Miller, a licensed foster parent for 10 years, in her immaculately clean home on Bewick Street on the city's east side.
"We need to look at the entire situation," Margaret Warner, director of children and family services for the Wayne County Family Independence Agency, said Wednesday. "She has a long history of fostering for us and always presented very well."
There were no complaints or negative reports in Miller's licensing file with the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services, officials said.
Ieisha, born to a crack-addicted woman, did not have a normal brain, only a brain stem, and had significant health problems, according to court records. DuJuan, whose exact age could not be determined Wednesday, apparently died of sudden infant death syndrome, said an official. DuJuan had been in Miller's home for two months before he was adopted, the official said.
The baby's file at the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office was pulled by medical examiner Dr. Sawait Kanluen and was not available for review.
Meanwhile, the 62-year-old Miller appeared Wednesday before a referee in Wayne County Family Court. Her court-assigned attorney, Geula Tron, said Miller was prepared to plead no contest to an FIA petition that she had neglected the 9-year-old and his 10-year-old brother -- both adopted by Miller in the early 1990s.
Referee Paulette LeBost authorized the petition so the court could take jurisdiction over the children, but she would not accept the no-contest plea, saying the case would be transferred to a Family Court judge.
LeBost refused a request by Assistant Attorney General Kathleen Gardiner to suspend Miller's visits with the boys, who are in foster care. LeBost said visitation cannot be suspended without a request to terminate parental rights.
Gardiner told LeBost the FIA petition soon will be amended to terminate Miller's parental rights for the boys so they can be adopted by someone else.
Miller, who wore blue jeans, a blue denim jacket and a blue denim "BUM" cap, declined to comment to reporters and pulled the jacket over her head as she left the courtroom.
Her former husband, Lawrence Miller, said allegations that she abused children were false.
"She restrained him because the kid was trying to fight her," Miller said of the handicapped child. "Sure, she's a good mother. She's had 30 to 40 foster children in her home."
Detroit police earlier this year had investigated an apparent injury to a foster child residing in Emily Miller's home. No charges were filed.
Lawrence Miller said his ex-wife, who came to court with a cast on her left arm, had broken her arm a year ago, and could not have harmed a foster baby she cared for from February to April of this year. That baby was found to have retinal and cranial bleeding that doctors at St. John Hospital said was consistent with injuries from being shaken.
No criminal charges were filed in that case; and no criminal charges have been filed in the case of the boy police found tied to a bucket Monday.
Emily Miller, who had been held overnight for questioning, was released from custody Tuesday. Wayne County Deputy Chief Prosecutor Nancy Diehl said medical and mental evaluations for the 9-year-old boy were scheduled and the investigation would continue.
Earline Carter, a teacher who said she had both boys in her special education class a few years ago, said the younger boy was prone to tantrums. She said he would curse when he did not get his way and also threw excrement.
She said he was in her class for two years and was well-looked after.
"She was very nice to the kids and they were never nasty and they were well fed," Carter said. "She was an excellent parent. I mean you couldn't find anyone, to me, who was better. She really loved those kids."
The 10-year-old boy was placed in Miller's home in 1991 after his birth to a woman who had no prenatal care and had been acting bizarrely. According to records in Family Court, Miller's adoption of the boy was delayed because she was having trouble compiling documentation on her four marriages and divorces.
JACK KRESNAK can be reached at 313-223-4544 or kresnak@freepress.com. M.L. ELRICK can be reached at 313-223-4456 or elrick@freepress.com.
This article was kindly provided by Jack Kresnak President & CEO of Michigan's Children