The Dominic James Case
Two year old boy ill-treated to death in
A series of articles in the
August 21 -
Dominic James died of ill-treatment on
By Ryan Slight
Sidney James sued Cox Medical Centers this
week, claiming the
Ellen Jervis, a
"We've been taking a look at this issue for some
time," said Jervis, who also represents James in a related federal civil
lawsuit against Division of Family Services employees.
News-Leader Staff.
Foster care
bill signed into law by Holden
Dominic
James Act to overhaul state system.
By James Goodwin
Nearly two years after the death of
The Dominic James Memorial Foster Care Reform Act includes
changes already under way and grants new protections to children and guardians
accused of harming them.
News-Leader
By Laura Bauer
For the first time in
Missouri, records regarding a child in DFS custody have been released, setting
a precedent for other cases where a child dies or is seriously injured.
After a six-month court battle, the News-Leader has won a
lawsuit with the Missouri Division of Family Services, obtaining the complete
DFS file on 2-year-old Dominic James. The release of more than 800 pages of
records includes DFS files and caseworkers' notes, and some medical records. It
also includes the hotline investigation of alleged abuse, which became the
green light for the toddler being put back into the home where prosecutors say
he was fatally injured by his foster father, John Dilley.
News-Leader.
By Laura Bauer
Willard rescue workers, who helped Dominic
James the first time he was rushed to the hospital, feared the toddler had been
abused and called the agency in charge of protecting him.
But the hotline call to the Division of Family Services on Aug. 10 didn’t
prevent the child from being returned four days later to the foster care home
where prosecutors say he was later fatally injured.
News-Leader.
Pleas to move Dominic unheeded
Questions remain as to why child was allowed to stay in Willard home.
By Laura
Bauer
Two officials responsible for the welfare of Dominic James —
his court-appointed guardian and his juvenile officer — didn’t want the
2-year-old returned to the foster home in Willard where prosecutors say he was
later fatally injured, a News-Leader investigation shows
News-Leader.
Foster parents keep giving in wake of tragedy
By Laura
Bauer
Within days of Dominic James being rushed to the hospital,
the phone at Diane Schoeller’s house began ringing.
Other foster care parents were calling, worried and wondering what was going to
happen as a family in their small group was under scrutiny. They prayed for
Dominic, who had turned 2 in June and had died just two months later of what
prosecutors say was abuse inside a foster home.
News-Leader,
Charges expected in boy’s death
Probe into Dominic
James case will take a few more days, authorities say.
By Laura Bauer
Now that a Greene County toddler has been buried, officials
say an arrest and charges in his death will come later this week after more
detailed investigation.
Authorities say it’s going to take a few more days, insisting that it isn’t
easy getting all the records they need. Dominic James died last Wednesday while
in the custody of the Missouri Division of Family Services; his abuse
reportedly occurred while living in a foster care home in Willard.
News-Leader,
Vigil pays tribute to youth’s spirit
Dominic Raynell James
remembered for his energy, enthusiasm
By Ryan Slight
The Rev. LeRoy Gilbert gazed out on
As dozens of individuals lit candles Sunday evening in the 2-year-old’s memory,
the pastor of
For the News-Leader,
2-year-old dies; shaking suspected
Dominic Raynell James
was in custody of family services at time of injuries.
By Laura Bauer
Dominic Raynell James died early Wednesday morning shortly
after he was taken off life support, a machine that had kept him alive for
nearly two days. He turned 2 on June 4.
Authorities hope today’s autopsy of the
News-Leader,
Abuse by foster
parents a rarity
Statewide, less than 1 percent of all hotline investigations of
abuse and neglect concern foster parents.
Instances of abuse in foster families are not the norm, state officials said.
News-Leader Staff,
Abuse of toddler in foster care alleged
Willard police, state
investigating the cause of 2-year-old’s severe head injury.
By Laura Bauer
A 2-year-old boy who has been living in a Willard foster-care home was
in critical condition at a
Willard police detectives are conducting the probe and have interviewed people
close to the toddler, Sgt. Ron Killingsworth said.
As of Tuesday night, no one had been arrested and charges had not been filed.
News-Leader,