By Jim Guy / The Fresno Bee
A 23-year-old Fresno foster mother was booked this week on murder charges in the death of a 7-week-old girl who police say was the victim of shaken-baby syndrome.
Mikayla Tabin died last September at Children's Hospital Central California, prompting child welfare and law enforcement officials to launch an investigation.
Jovannee Reynolds was arrested by Fresno police Thursday after a months-long investigation that revealed shaken-baby syndrome, a term used to describe symptoms resulting from violent shaking of an infant or small child's head.
On Aug. 30, Fresno County Child Protective Services placed Mikayla with Reynolds and her husband at their central Fresno apartment on the 3200 block of West Ashlan Avenue.
On Sept. 13, the couple took Mikayla to Children's Hospital, saying the infant was having difficulty breathing. Mikayla died Sept. 20.
The Fresno Police Department's Child Abuse Unit and the Fresno County Coroner's Office began investigating what they determined was a suspicious death.
Reynolds' husband was not arrested, and police Lt. Mark Salazar said he is not a suspect.
Fresno County Social Services Director Catherine Huerta said the news was devastating. "When children go into a foster system, we assume the child is going to be safe," she said. "That obviously wasn't the case. It's just heartbreaking."
Huerta said social service workers routinely look into home safety, do background checks on potential foster parents and arrange for parenting classes. She said workers are trained to spot those who should not be parenting. Oh Really? And the workers are like what, 23 years old and childless themselves?
Huerta said after news of Mikayla's death last year, her department looked back at the case to see if there were any warning signs that Reynolds should not be a candidate for foster parenting. Huerta said there weren't. Being 23 and apparently CHILDLESS wasn't?
Huerta said putting children in foster homes "puts us in a vulnerable situation. I don't know how we can't be." Define "vulnerable" relating to CPS agency responsibility and liability please
Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea said there must be "massive reform" of the state's foster care system. "It's always a tragedy to a community when we lose a child," he said. "Here's another child who died in the care of Fresno County. We should do better."* FULL STORY
* Like be charged for accessory to MURDER, instead of just being so darned embarrassed about it.
So what are you saying a childless couple can't open their homes and hearts to a child and take care of them when their home is deemed unsafe. My husband and I are unable to have children, but we are thinking of applying as foster parents as so many children today, could use a stable family life, even if it's for a short period of time.
ReplyDeleteI am saying that people like you are CLUELESS.
ReplyDeleteDo us all a favor and adopt a dog or cat.
Good job reporting the truth Leonard! I am in the middle of a nightmare w fresno county cps and need all the resourses and support I can get! I am certain my grandaughter was physically and sexualy abused in the foster home cps place her in! I strongly believe if they had not placed her back w the fam when they did, that they would have handed us back a dead baby! When I went to report my concerns to the sw in charge of the case she refused to take my report and she is a mandated reporter! Our baby is safe at present however, I still am very concerned for the children that are still continuing to be placed in the foster home in question! They are hoping it will go away and are trying desperatly to sweep it under the rug!
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