Angelic Clary found dead; Officials release foster parent

Bakersfield Californian, The (CA)

Author: DANIELLE C. BELTON, Californian staff writere-mail: dbelton@bakersfield.com

A local woman arrested after a child in her care died suspiciously was released from jail late Thursday night.

The district attorney's office decided police had not provided enough evidence for them to file charges against Sabrina Stafford, 36, who was arrested Monday on two counts of willful cruelty to a child. The case was sent back "for further investigation."

Police arrested Stafford after paramedics found one baby dead and another baby very ill in her apartment home on the 6300 block of Castleford Street Sunday.

She was supposed to be arraigned in court Thursday, but the district attorney's office instead asked Bakersfield police for more evidence.

"We want to wait until the toxicology reports come back so we can have a stronger case with both counts," said Sgt. Hajir Nuriddin with the Bakersfield Police Department's Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit.

The reports will take about two weeks to complete.

Three-month-old Angelic Clary was found dead Sunday by paramedics who were dispatched to Stafford's home on a 911 call, said BPD officials. Police said Stafford dialed 911 and said Angelic wasn't breathing.

When paramedics arrived they found the baby dead, lying on the couch. Her twin sister was strapped into a soiled car seat and had a 104.8-degree fever.

Police said paramedics took the surviving sister to Memorial Hospital where doctors discovered that the surviving twin was hungry, dehydrated, had low sodium in her blood and barbiturates in her system.

Barbiturates are depressants, normally used as a sleeping aid.

The paramedics also found the living sister, who wasn't identified, was lethargic and had dried mucus around her mouth and nose, Nuriddin said. The baby is now in good condition, according to hospital officials.

As for Angelic, a preliminary autopsy showed that she was dehydrated and had scabs on her left ear that may have been caused by ant bites. Dead ants were also found in the baby's diaper.

This, along with the condition of the apartment, prompted the arrest, Nuriddin said.

"The foster mom could not explain how traces of barbiturates were in the baby's system. She couldn't explain why the baby was sleeping in a soiled car seat," Nuriddin said.

Police officials said Stafford gave "inconsistent" statements regarding the children's care and feeding.

"We became concerned," Nuriddin said. "We hope to get a lot of the those questions answered."

Angelic Clary may be the first Kern County child in a decade to die from mistreatment while in the foster care, said officials with the Kern County Department of Human Services.

Barbara Zimmermann, a spokeswoman for the department, said there has only been one child death in the last 18 years due to abuse or neglect while in foster care.

"Until this investigation is complete we are anxious to get all the details sorted out," Zimmermann said.

The parents of the twins have been notified by social workers and police of the death, Zimmermann said.

Human Services Department officials couldn't comment much on the case. Zimmermann would only say that Stafford had been a foster parent for a long time in the Bakersfield community and was licensed for two emergency placements in her home.

Zimmermann said all foster parents go through a lengthy, 12-week process before children are allowed to stay in their homes. Potential foster parents must submit to fingerprinting for background checks, must be trained and must have their homes inspected by the department.

If they meet all the requirements the parent becomes licensed and can take in foster children.

"There are hundreds of families in Kern County who do supply loving support to the children we have in foster care. They provide a critical role to the safety and well-being of children in our community," she said.

A check of court records showed no local criminal record by Stafford.

There are about 3,000 children in the foster care system in Kern County but only 400 foster families -- far from enough.

"We are always appealing to the public for more foster parents," Zimmermann said. "People who will open up their hearts and their homes to children who need a place to stay."