Police are investigating what left one 2-year-old foster child dead and another 22-month-old one in “very critical” condition this weekend in Auburn Massachusetts.
First responders were called to a foster family’s house on Saturday and found the pair of temporarily-placed toddlers in extreme medical distress.
CPR and other lifesaving measures were performed on each of the small girls, after which they both were transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center where one died and the other remains unconscious.
Their unidentified caregivers, assigned by Worcester County’s Department of Children and Families, then saw their own three kids and another older foster child promptly removed from the home.
Officials are still trying to determine what harmed the two young victims and reiterated that the probe of the incident is “ongoing,” although carbon-monoxide and other deadly fumes have already been ruled out as a possible cause.
The initial 911 call on Saturday afternoon reportedly came from the unnamed foster mother, an individual who is “very familiar” to the authorities, county officials disclosed.
They also described the puzzling tragedy and wrongful death as “a very difficult case.” An intentionally vague declaration that could imply the person-of-interest and/or suspect at this time may be one of their own, or else related to her.
A spokesperson for the state’s Governor also stepped up to issue a statement yesterday, saying on his behalf that he was “deeply saddened to learn of this tragic situation and is in constant communication with leadership at DCF and public safety about their ongoing investigation.”
In the meantime, the Department of Children and Families itself conceded today that their county-approved caregivers at the Auburn address have only been authorized as such since 2014. They also further confirmed that caseworkers inspected the subject home last week, but didn’t elaborate on the reason for their visit.
Foster care placements differ vastly from actual adoptions in that persons who take in these vulnerable children are paid on a monthly basis to do so via the county DCF -- a draconian for-profit “parenting” scheme historically proven to be quite corrupt and abusive.
