Family Of Dead Foster Child Seeks Beacon Hill's Help

BOSTON -- The recent death of a child in a foster home has led to investigations both inside and outside of the Department of Social Services.

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Janet Wu Reports On Child's Death

NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that the family of Dontel Jeffers is still waiting for autopsy results, but they believe the 4-year-old was killed.

In the family's search for answers, they met with a special Statehouse committee Wednesday afternoon.

"There must be some reason why Dontel died. I mean it can't be he died just suddenly like that. Dontel was not sick," said Dontel's aunt, Phillipa Jeffers.

"It is the best thing for Congress to be here because they can get to the bottom of this. I want answers. I want to know what caused his death. I want to see a death certificate. The family has been waiting for the commission or the DA -- we want answers," said Dontel's cousin, Vincent James.

"We are hoping that material will be available within the next few days. If it is not, then the foster care caucus is going to jump into action and work to get a copy of that in the hands of the family as soon as possible," said Rep. Stanley Rosenberg.

"The key questions are why did Dontel have to be turned over to the foster parent in the first place and not returned back to the biological grandparent that had been raising him for four years," said Rep. Gloria Fox.

Dontel's grandmother was his guardian until the child's mother, who has a history of drug abuse, won custody through the courts in 2004. Several months later, Dontel was put in foster care. Ten days later, he was dead.

"We are not sure that the foster parent had training to deal with Dontel. We are not sure that she was adequately trained," said Rep. Marie Parenti.

DSS commissioner Harry Spence had been scheduled to attend the meeting, but had to cancel because of illness. Legislators said they would reschedule.