Post by Milisha on Jan 6, 2009 21:05:08 GMT -5
Samauri Mayes 2-year-old
Injured Toddler Dies, Guardian Charged
Sumari's parents told WYFF News 4 that they believe Maxwell had harmed the child in the past and that the Department of Social Services ignored their reports of abuse.
Mother Gets Threats After Daughter Charged In Abuse Case
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The mother of a woman charged with neglect in the death of a 2-year-old child said that she has gotten text-message death threats in the past few days.
Carol Hunter said that her daughter, Lavonda Maxwell, is "heartbroken" over the death of Samuri Mayes and would never have intentionally harmed the child.
Hunter said that she has gotten six text-message death threats since her daughter was charged and has been afraid to leave her house."Why? Why? What did I do?" Hunter said. " I'm sorry, but I did nothing wrong."
Samuri was taken off life support on Friday after being admitted with head injuries on Wednesday.
Hunter said her daughter told her that Samuri fell and hit her head.
But investigators charged Maxwell on Saturday with unlawful neglect. She was jailed at the Greenville County Detention Center.
The child the was placed in Maxwell's care more than a year ago. The child's mother, who is Maxwell's cousin, lost custody because of a drug charge.
"Vonda loved her, I know she did," Hunter said. "Everybody that knows Lavonda, knows she loved that baby. To Showana and Eric (the child's parents), we're sorry. We are so sorry."
Sumari's parents told WYFF News 4 that they believe Maxwell had harmed the child in the past and that the Department of Social Services ignored their reports of abuse.
DSS would not comment on the parents' allegations. Deputies confirmed that they are investigating the reports of threats against Hunter.
Meanwhile, the child's mother, Showana Watts, was arrested on an outstanding bench warrant Monday morning and the child's father was accused of head-butting a DSS supervisor at a meeting.
The child's father has not been arrested or charged in the case as of Monday evening.
Greenville County Sheriff's Office Lt. Shea Smith said deputies were called to the DSS office in Greenville to respond to the report from the supervisor.
The supervisor told deputies that a meeting with the mother and father turned contentious and that when he tried to end the meeting and opened the door for them, he was head-butted.
Social Services Remove 2 Others From Woman's Care
GREENVILLE -- The guardian of a toddler who was brought in for treatment of extensive injuries on New Year's Eve has been charged after the child died Friday.
The Greenville County Sheriff's Office has charged Lavonda Maxwell, 29, with unlawful neglect of a child which carries a potential sentence of 10 years.
Maxwell was the 29-month-old Samauri Mayes' legal guardian. Mayes had been taken away from her parents in Oct. 2007 because of their addiction to marijuana. The Department of Social Services (DSS) gave legal guardianship to Maxwell -- cousin of the child's parents.
"It's like a dream," said Eric Mayes, the child's father. "A bad dream."Shawona Watts, the child's mother, said the two had trusted Maxwell.
"I really trusted my cousin," Watts said. "I really did. I had faith she was home taking care of my baby, but I don't think she's in this by herself. I really don't."
Mayes was brought to Greenville Memorial Hospital on Wednesday with unspecified "extensive injuries" after being found unresponsive at a home on Dixie Circle. Mayes died on Friday.
Maxwell was unable to explain how the toddler received the injuries.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming.
Maxwell had two other children in her custody when Mayes was taken to the hospital. Both have been taken into Emergency Protective Custody and are now in the custody of DSS.
Maxwell is being held in the Greenville county detention center under no bond.
2-Year-Old's Death Investigated
Child In Care Of Relative At Time Of Injury
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. -- The death of a child who had been placed in the custody of a relative is being investigated by the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.
Marilyn Matheus, spokeswoman for the Department of Social Services in Columbia, told WYFF News 4 that at an earlier date that she could not disclose, the 28-month-old girl had been placed in the custody of one of her parent's cousins.
Matheus could not say when or why the child had been placed, but she did say that after a home study, the relative had been given physical and legal custody of the toddler.
On Wednesday, deputies went to the hospital after doctors reported that the child was being treated for head injuries of unknown origin. Because investigators were unable to determine how the child's injuries came about, she was taken into emergency protective custody while she was being cared for at the hospital.
The child died Friday. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
When asked about the placement with the relative, Matheus said that it was an "unfortunate circumstance," but that "no judgment" was appropriate at this time since investigators have not yet been able to determine how the child was injured.
No charges have been filed in connection with the child's death.
POSTED: 9:45 am EST January 2, 2009
Injured Toddler Dies, Guardian Charged
Sumari's parents told WYFF News 4 that they believe Maxwell had harmed the child in the past and that the Department of Social Services ignored their reports of abuse.
Mother Gets Threats After Daughter Charged In Abuse Case
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The mother of a woman charged with neglect in the death of a 2-year-old child said that she has gotten text-message death threats in the past few days.
Carol Hunter said that her daughter, Lavonda Maxwell, is "heartbroken" over the death of Samuri Mayes and would never have intentionally harmed the child.
Hunter said that she has gotten six text-message death threats since her daughter was charged and has been afraid to leave her house."Why? Why? What did I do?" Hunter said. " I'm sorry, but I did nothing wrong."
Samuri was taken off life support on Friday after being admitted with head injuries on Wednesday.
Hunter said her daughter told her that Samuri fell and hit her head.
But investigators charged Maxwell on Saturday with unlawful neglect. She was jailed at the Greenville County Detention Center.
The child the was placed in Maxwell's care more than a year ago. The child's mother, who is Maxwell's cousin, lost custody because of a drug charge.
"Vonda loved her, I know she did," Hunter said. "Everybody that knows Lavonda, knows she loved that baby. To Showana and Eric (the child's parents), we're sorry. We are so sorry."
Sumari's parents told WYFF News 4 that they believe Maxwell had harmed the child in the past and that the Department of Social Services ignored their reports of abuse.
DSS would not comment on the parents' allegations. Deputies confirmed that they are investigating the reports of threats against Hunter.
Meanwhile, the child's mother, Showana Watts, was arrested on an outstanding bench warrant Monday morning and the child's father was accused of head-butting a DSS supervisor at a meeting.
The child's father has not been arrested or charged in the case as of Monday evening.
Greenville County Sheriff's Office Lt. Shea Smith said deputies were called to the DSS office in Greenville to respond to the report from the supervisor.
The supervisor told deputies that a meeting with the mother and father turned contentious and that when he tried to end the meeting and opened the door for them, he was head-butted.
Social Services Remove 2 Others From Woman's Care
GREENVILLE -- The guardian of a toddler who was brought in for treatment of extensive injuries on New Year's Eve has been charged after the child died Friday.
The Greenville County Sheriff's Office has charged Lavonda Maxwell, 29, with unlawful neglect of a child which carries a potential sentence of 10 years.
Maxwell was the 29-month-old Samauri Mayes' legal guardian. Mayes had been taken away from her parents in Oct. 2007 because of their addiction to marijuana. The Department of Social Services (DSS) gave legal guardianship to Maxwell -- cousin of the child's parents.
"It's like a dream," said Eric Mayes, the child's father. "A bad dream."Shawona Watts, the child's mother, said the two had trusted Maxwell.
"I really trusted my cousin," Watts said. "I really did. I had faith she was home taking care of my baby, but I don't think she's in this by herself. I really don't."
Mayes was brought to Greenville Memorial Hospital on Wednesday with unspecified "extensive injuries" after being found unresponsive at a home on Dixie Circle. Mayes died on Friday.
Maxwell was unable to explain how the toddler received the injuries.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming.
Maxwell had two other children in her custody when Mayes was taken to the hospital. Both have been taken into Emergency Protective Custody and are now in the custody of DSS.
Maxwell is being held in the Greenville county detention center under no bond.
2-Year-Old's Death Investigated
Child In Care Of Relative At Time Of Injury
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. -- The death of a child who had been placed in the custody of a relative is being investigated by the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.
Marilyn Matheus, spokeswoman for the Department of Social Services in Columbia, told WYFF News 4 that at an earlier date that she could not disclose, the 28-month-old girl had been placed in the custody of one of her parent's cousins.
Matheus could not say when or why the child had been placed, but she did say that after a home study, the relative had been given physical and legal custody of the toddler.
On Wednesday, deputies went to the hospital after doctors reported that the child was being treated for head injuries of unknown origin. Because investigators were unable to determine how the child's injuries came about, she was taken into emergency protective custody while she was being cared for at the hospital.
The child died Friday. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
When asked about the placement with the relative, Matheus said that it was an "unfortunate circumstance," but that "no judgment" was appropriate at this time since investigators have not yet been able to determine how the child was injured.
No charges have been filed in connection with the child's death.
POSTED: 9:45 am EST January 2, 2009