Jamie Lucas holds her 5-month-old granddaughters Caroline Moran, who underwent emergency surgery for a brain bleed last month. Her father is facing charges. Staff photo by Michelle Davies
When Mary Beth Bonaventura resigned as director of the Indiana Department of Child Services in mid-December, she blamed internal cost-cutting moves and policies that would “all but ensure children will die.”
Local activists say her prophecy came true within weeks, at least in Allen County. There have been six child homicides this year. If Malakai Garrett's Nov. 29 death is included, there have been seven in the last five months.
Of the six this year, one was ruled accidental, one was a near-term fetus shot inside his mother and two were allegedly beaten to death. The fifth, Darius Marcel Boone, 14, died last week at the hands of a friend with a gun.
The latest homicide ruling came Friday on 2-year-old Jocelyn “JoJo” Belcher, who was pronounced dead at her home on East Butler Street on Jan. 27. She died from neck compression, the coroner said.
Families of several of the young victims say they warned DCS that abuse was taking place before the children died. Officials with the Foster Parent Association of Allen County say structural changes are needed in the child protection system.
“My guess is (DCS is) spread too thin,” said Denise Durnell, vice president of the Foster Parent Association.
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