Report Says DCF Failed To Act Before Lynn Infant's Beating Death
BOSTON (CBS) - Just days after Massachusetts Department of Children and Families stepped aside amid a growing list of department failures, the state's Office of the Child Advocate is out with a critical report on the death of a Lynn baby last summer.
The report says that 3-month-old Chase Gideika, who was allegedly beaten to death by his mother's boyfriend, Anthony Gideika, should not have been in the home.
The report says the baby and his twin were born with drugs in their systems, but were sent home despite the family's long involvement with DCF.
Read: Full report
That involvement included the removal of a toddler from the home due to neglect.
Anthony Gideika has pleaded not guilty to murder and is awaiting trial. Chase Gideika's siblings remain in foster case.
The report also notes two similar incidents between May and July 2013 involving infants whose families were receiving services from DCF.
These infants also suffered from severe physical abuse that was allegedly inflicted by their father or mother's partner. One of the victims died, and the other suffered permanent brain damage.
The report says one of those infants had exposed to drugs before birth.
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