We've posted on this case twice in the past two days. I sure hope that this grandmother succeeds in her quest. These agencies MUST be held accountable for their actions. Otherwise, there is no hope that they will ever change.
http://www.whptv.com/news/local/story/UPDATE-Grandmother-of-murdered-child-plans-to-sue/Vb84COsV20O4mbqFH7YGyw.cspx
UPDATE: Grandmother of murdered child plans to sue Dauphin County
Reported by: Ewa Roman
Email: ewaroman@cbs21.com
Last Update: 9/23 7:39 pm
A follow up, to an exclusive story you saw here first, on CBS 21 News at eleven Wednesday night.
A Dauphin County grandmother says she plans to sue Children and Youth. She claims they didn't investigate properly, when she reported that her three year old grandson was being abused. The boy ended up dying.
Wednesday, Swatara Township Police announced that they're investigating Jayahn Cox-Phoenix's death as homicide. The assistant district attorney on this case says that even though they announced that this was a homicide case Wednesday, his office has known for quite some time that someone killed this child. The boy was in the care of his father at the time of his death. When CBS 21 asked the assistant district attorney if the dad is a suspect at this time, we were told that they're not ruling anyone out as a suspect.
" I'll never see him and his sister will never see him again. I'll never have no grandkids from this boy, because nobody would help and listen to us," said Tammy Beltz, child's grandmother.
By nobody, she means Dauphin County Children and Youth. She gave CBS 21 News copies of court documents that say on May 7th, she and her daughter filed an emergency petition for custody, because they believed the boy was being beaten and forced to sleep on the floor.
A judge took the case and according to a document, four days later he denied their request, saying there wasn't enough proof of that and that they need to attend a custody hearing on June 3rd.
But , Jayahn never made it to June 3rd. A month before, he was found in a bathtub, in an apartment where his father lived. After four days on life support, Jayahn died. The Dauphin County Coroner says he drowned and had traumatic brain injury. CBS 21 called Jayahn's father to see if he wanted to tell his side of the story but, we didn't get a call back.
While police investigate, his mother looks for justice.
"My child don't have no life no more. I want you to sit in jail every day, like why would you do this to a three year old?" said Jasmine Cox, child's mother.
CBS 21 also placed several calls and emails to Dauphin County Children and Youth. At the time this report was posted online, we haven't heard back.
The assistant district attorney tells CBS 21 News that by law, Children and Youth isn't allowed to discuss any cases.