Mayor Eric Adams said on Thursday, June 30, that New York City needs to examine if the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) had failed seven-year-old Julissia Batties, who was allegedly murdered by her mom just months after being placed back in her care.
The mayor was asked to respond to claims by the young girl's grief-stricken father that the city's system failed her. Julius Batties referred to the ACS decision to return Julissia to her mom Navasia Jones less than two months before his daughter was found beaten to death in August 2021. Jones and her half-brother Paul Fine were both charged with murder, according to CBS News.
Adams noted it should be assessed if there was a failure, as they have cases like this, wherein they are constantly analyzing how they could do something better.
Slain girl's dad blasts Adams
However, the mayor's response did not satisfy the aggrieved father. He said that all of this is black and white and that Adams should look at the records and return to him. Batties pointed out to Adams that they all work for the city, and ACS is run by the city.
He added that it was a shame on the city and worse shame on the mayor, referring to Adam's response. The grieving dad said that Adams should do his homework before speaking and judging the situation when he does not know what he is talking about.
The deceased youngster was the subject of a heated custody battle for nearly all of her life. Julissia's paternal grandmother, Yolanda Davis, was temporarily granted custody of the child after birth. Davis previously said in an interview that she begged ACS not to send the girl back to her mother.
Jones, charged with murder and manslaughter on Wednesday, June 29, had lost custody of her daughter at birth, along with her four sons, due to alleged physical abuse and negligence. Young Julissia cried hysterically in a heartbreaking audio recording obtained by the New York Post, begging her grandmother not to send her for a court-ordered weekend visit with her mother.
Cops called at least six times
There was a known history of violence in the Jones residence, with cops being called to the apartment in New York City Housing Authority's (NYCHA) Mitchel Houses at least six times between May 2018 and March 2020 for suspected abuse of the young girl, according to sources.
Despite her emotional pleas, Julissia was still sent to visit her mother. The ACS placed her there permanently during the spring against objections by her court-appointed lawyer and grandmother, according to the Daily Mail. That proved to be a tragic mistake as Julissia's lifeless and battered body was discovered just a few months later, with evidence of trauma found all over the dead girl.
