harrisonsdream
02-10-2007, 02:43 PM
Teen held during probe of toddler's death
By ROSANNA RUIZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
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A 14-year-old held in the beating death of his 2-year-old cousin will remain in custody while the investigation continues, authorities said Friday.
The toddler, Daveon Adams, died early Thursday at Memorial Hermann Hospital of injuries that included internal bleeding, chest abrasions and head contusions, authorities said.
The teenager, whose name was not released because he is a juvenile, had been left Wednesday to baby-sit Daveon and five other children at their home in the 5200 block of Lyndhurst in southeast Houston, police said. He told police he struck the toddler in the abdomen, and that an ambulance was summoned when he discovered Daveon was not breathing.
Houston Police investigators could not be reached for comment Friday.
Herbert Reese, the teenager's father and Daveon's uncle, declined to comment.
Daveon and his 3-year-old brother were taken from their mother last year while investigators looked into a sexual abuse allegation and after tests showed she was using drugs, said Estella Olguin, of the Texas Department of Child Protective Services.
Since last summer, the boys have lived in three different relatives' homes.
The first two sets of relatives gave the boys up when they no longer were able to care for them. In December, the boys were placed with an aunt and uncle in their four-bedroom home on Lyndhurst. Although the couple had seven children of their own, the oldest 14 years and the youngest 11 months, they were found to be suitable caretakers for Daveon and his brother.
"When we talked to the aunt and uncle, they said they wanted to help," Olguin said. "They knew these children, they loved them and they wanted them to be part of their family to prevent them from being in foster care."
A CPS caseworker last visited the home Jan. 23, and was scheduled for a follow-up the day Daveon died, Olguin said.
A court hearing will be held Feb. 21 to determine who should have custody of Daveon's brother, Olguin said. The boy's father wants custody, but CPS will request that the child remain in a foster home. The other children are staying with relatives until CPS officials determine whether it is safe for them to go home.
By ROSANNA RUIZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
TOOLS
Email Get section feed
Print Subscribe NOW
A 14-year-old held in the beating death of his 2-year-old cousin will remain in custody while the investigation continues, authorities said Friday.
The toddler, Daveon Adams, died early Thursday at Memorial Hermann Hospital of injuries that included internal bleeding, chest abrasions and head contusions, authorities said.
The teenager, whose name was not released because he is a juvenile, had been left Wednesday to baby-sit Daveon and five other children at their home in the 5200 block of Lyndhurst in southeast Houston, police said. He told police he struck the toddler in the abdomen, and that an ambulance was summoned when he discovered Daveon was not breathing.
Houston Police investigators could not be reached for comment Friday.
Herbert Reese, the teenager's father and Daveon's uncle, declined to comment.
Daveon and his 3-year-old brother were taken from their mother last year while investigators looked into a sexual abuse allegation and after tests showed she was using drugs, said Estella Olguin, of the Texas Department of Child Protective Services.
Since last summer, the boys have lived in three different relatives' homes.
The first two sets of relatives gave the boys up when they no longer were able to care for them. In December, the boys were placed with an aunt and uncle in their four-bedroom home on Lyndhurst. Although the couple had seven children of their own, the oldest 14 years and the youngest 11 months, they were found to be suitable caretakers for Daveon and his brother.
"When we talked to the aunt and uncle, they said they wanted to help," Olguin said. "They knew these children, they loved them and they wanted them to be part of their family to prevent them from being in foster care."
A CPS caseworker last visited the home Jan. 23, and was scheduled for a follow-up the day Daveon died, Olguin said.
A court hearing will be held Feb. 21 to determine who should have custody of Daveon's brother, Olguin said. The boy's father wants custody, but CPS will request that the child remain in a foster home. The other children are staying with relatives until CPS officials determine whether it is safe for them to go home.