The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is asking for a full investigation into the death of a 1-year-old baby from Canoga Park who may have died of malnourishment despite being visited by a county social worker who never opened a case, according to news reports and county sources.
The child, whose first name is Thyri, reportedly was left alone with her 11-year-old brother after their mother had left the home, leaving the baby, the 11-year-old and other children to fend for themselves for several days. The boy did not have enough food and was feeding the baby French fries and jelly, according to reports.
The infant was found dead in her crib on July 1, the newspaper reported.
Detectives from the LAPD told the County Department of Children and Family Services the baby was “malnourished” and had “sunken eyes,” the the Los Angeles Times reported. The newspaper also reported that DCFS had toured the Canoga Park apartment, found food in the refrigerator and that the baby appeared happy. No case file was opened, according to county sources.
County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, whose district includes Canoga Park and the San Fernando Valley, said in a statement that the baby’s death was “an absolute tragedy.”
She has authored a motion that will be taken up at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 17, to open a case file on the death. Horvath’s motion calls for the Office of Child Protection and the County Counsel to “conduct a full investigation” into all county departments that may have been involved or had any contact with the family, including the Department of Children and Family Services, according to county documents.
The motion asks for a review of who made contact with the family, and whether anyone called medical authorities to check on the baby. It also asks for a review of DCFS case workers who may have visited the Canoga Park apartment of the family, their professional experience, length of service, and to root out “any systemic issues that may have impeded the coordination of services.” The motion also asks for a report back to the board with an assessment of the county resources that handles calls about children possibly being neglected or otherwise in danger.
“I am heartbroken and I am sick because Thyri and her siblings deserved better. Every child deserves basic care and decency — food, child care, and support. We will be working with DCFS and the many related county departments that exist to meet the critical needs our families face. We are responsible for doing better for all children in L.A. County,” said Horvath in a statement.
The LAPD is investigating the death and is exploring the cause of death, according to county documents.
A detective from the LAPD Juvenile Division said the department cannot discuss the case because it is under investigation.
County sources said facts of what happened, including the involvement of the DCFS, are sketchy, and that Horvath has put the motion on the board agenda in hopes it gets approved and begins a fact-gathering investigation.