The Tragic Case of Thyri
The Soft-Spoken 18-Year-Old’s Plea for Help
The soft-spoken 18-year-old had run out of food for his three younger siblings. He told the Canoga Park High School counselor that his mother was disappearing for days at a time, leaving him and his siblings, ages 11, 3, and 1, with hardly anything to eat. He filled his stomach with water to stave off the hunger.
The School’s Attempt to Intervene
The senior, Alvondo Williams Jr., was sent home with a cooler filled with bread, milk, sandwich meat, and cereal. The counselor then called the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) hotline to report possible neglect in a home with "more condiments than food."
The DCFS’s Inaction
Over the next two days, an LAPD officer and then a DCFS social worker toured the family’s Canoga Park apartment. Both took the full refrigerator, stocked with food the school had just provided, as a sign the children had enough to eat, according to DCFS records obtained by The Times. Despite receiving several reports this spring about a family with an absent mother and gnawing hunger, the DCFS never opened a case – even after another school counselor called the hotline on May 13 to say that Williams’ mother had kicked him out of the house.
The Tragic Consequences
On July 1, Thyri, the 1-year-old, was found dead, "malnourished" with "sunken eyes," a detective told the DCFS. She showed signs of dehydration, "poor diet" and possible neglect, according to the county coroner’s postmortem examination. James, the 11-year-old, had resorted to feeding his baby sister jelly and french fries, according to a DCFS report.
The Investigation
A DCFS analysis had determined that the situation was "high" risk, which typically means that social workers should open a case. But, according to DCFS records, the social worker overrode the recommendation – a decision that requires a supervisor’s approval. DCFS social workers are supposed to refer a child to a medical professional if they believe the child is malnourished. But the social worker described Thyri as "happy" and closed the referral before a doctor saw her.
Conclusion
Thyri’s tragic death is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of neglect and inaction. The DCFS’s failure to intervene and provide support to this family has led to a heartbreaking outcome. It is crucial that we prioritize the well-being of children and take swift action to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the DCFS’s responsibility?
A: The DCFS is responsible for protecting children from abuse and neglect.
Q: What happened to Thyri?
A: Thyri, a 1-year-old, was found dead due to malnutrition and dehydration.
Q: Why did the DCFS not open a case?
A: The DCFS received several reports about the family, but the social worker overrode the recommendation to open a case.
Q: What is being done to prevent similar tragedies?
A: The DCFS is reviewing its policies and procedures to ensure that it prioritizes the well-being of children and takes swift action to prevent neglect.
Q: What is the current status of James and Penelope?
A: James is in foster care, and Penelope lives with her father’s cousin in Lancaster.
