The child was reunified with his biological parents despite warnings that he was at significant risk of harm. The father drove the family to Broward County, FL, where he shot a man and held the family hostage. This resulted in a SWAT standoff during which time the father stabbed the child, stabbed the child’s non-verbal autistic brother to death, stabbed the mother, and stabbed himself to death.
The child was reunified with his biological parents despite warnings that he was at significant risk of harm. The father drove the family to Broward County, FL, where he shot a man and held the family hostage. This resulted in a SWAT standoff during which time the father stabbed the child, stabbed the child’s non-verbal autistic brother to death, stabbed the mother, and stabbed himself to death.
The 24-page lawsuit was filed against the Department of Children and Families and four other privately run foster care agencies under contract with DCF. It states that they had been aware of the family problems since 2007, ever since a domestic incident between the mother, Deanna Beauchamp De Jesus, and father, William De Jesus. The suit claims that the next year, the agency was notified again after reports that the father was molesting his two sons.
In an Aug. 6, 2009 report, a foster mother told a DCF representative that the younger son kept saying, “Monster Jackson is going to kill me and he’s coming back to get you.” But when the representative asked, “Who is Monster Jackson?” the child demurred, smiling and saying, “I don’t know.” The boys were put in foster care but returned with their parents in 2010 despite the previous incidents.
The case settled against DCF and several private child welfare agencies for undisclosed amounts.
Read more in these news articles below.
Disclaimer: Most cases result in a lower recovery. Results may not be typical and reflect awards before deduction for attorneys’ fees and expenses. It should not be assumed that your case will have as beneficial a result.