Two social workers in Detroit were charged in the death of a toddler after prosecutors believed that they failed to protect a three-year-old boy. They failed to follow up on the child after they found him in his home with not enough food earlier this year.
The two people charged are 24-year-old Elaina Brown and 47-year-old Kelly M. Williams. The two were charged with involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse. Both of which are felonies. The Wayne County prosecutor, Kym Worthy, said in a statement on Monday that the two women failed to protect Aaron Minor, 3, Huffington Post reported.
Worthy pointed out that the decision to file charges against the social workers came after much thought and deliberation but they have to hold them responsible for the alleged inaction. Worth added, "The ultimate result in this case was the death of a child that never should have happened."
Minor was found dead in a bed on May 25 of this year. Minor's mother, 28-year-old Deanna, was arrested back in August. The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office said that the child's death is a homicide. A maintenance worker was the one who discovered the dead body of Minor and authorities were able to locate his mother at an area hospital's crisis center. According to relatives, Deanna had a history of severe depression.
On April 21, a mental health worker marked Deanna for the Child Protective Services. Brown then visited Deanna and her son on April 21 and 22. Brown noted that there was not enough food in their home. Brown alerted Williams, her supervisor, but that was the last time she went to check on the mother and son. Brown instead sent a letter to Deanna asking her to contact them on May 9. Deanna did not follow up with them.
Prosecutors said that Brown and Williams have to be held responsible because it is a rule in the Child Protective Services that if a family cannot be located or fails to cooperate when there are allegations of imminent risk, the police should be contacted for a safety check. A petition should also be filed with the juvenile court, Freep reported.
Both Brown and Williams have been suspended with pay. They are not in jail but have been ordered to stay away from children in their work capacity. No other details are available regarding their court appearance.
