Is DCFS To Blame For Infant's Death?

Blake Dawson lived only 89 days before he was found face down on March 13 in his family's Belleville trailer home and later pronounced dead, according to the Belleville News-Democrat. The death of an infant is tragic in itself, but the Dept. of Children and Family Services is under fire for what many have said was a preventable death.

Blake was one of Angela M. Laquet's and Michael W. Dawson's eight children, six of whom were taken by the DCFS and adopted into other families through a court order. A 17-year-old daughter, the oldest, remains with her parents. The parents have not been charged with a crime but reporters want to know why Blake was not removed from the home.

Forensic psychologist Steven N. Shapse, who was quoted by reporters, also wants to know why the infant remained in the home:

"Looking at a family where they (DCFS) come to this determination that the mother or the parents were not competent as parents, I don't know why they wouldn't remove all the children."

DCFS spokesman Kendall Marlowe told reporters in a written response that proper procedure was followed:

"The investigation of the neglect allegations we received Dec. 15, 2009, gathered information from multiple independent sources. That information consistently demonstrated that the mother had received prenatal care during her pregnancy, had tested drug free throughout that care. ... No other safety concerns were raised."

Other child protection experts who spoke with reporters said they needed more details about the case in order to determine whether or not DCFS erred in not removing the infant. But the family has a history of domestic violence and abuse. William A. Dawson, the children's grandfather, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for repeatedly raping one of the girls.

Illinois family lawyers often handle child custody cases in which parents are charged with neglect, abuse or other instances in which the welfare of their children is in question.

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