Social Worker, Supervisor Charged In Death Of 3-Year-Old Detroit Boy

DETROIT (WWJ) - A social worker and her supervisor are now facing felony charges in connection with the death of a 3-year-old Detroit boy back in May.

Aaron Minor's decomposing body was found in a bed in an apartment in the 4400 block of Trumbull, near Canfield, after a maintenance worker reported a strong odor in the unit on May 25 of this year.

The mother, Deanna Minor, was later found in the psychiatric unit of an area hospital and an "extensive investigation" began. She was later arrested on numerous charges including second degree murder, child abuse and failing to report a dead body.

As it turned out, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's office, Child Protective Services knew the child was suffering and failed to act.

In a release out Monday, prosecutors said CPS worker Elaina Brown received a referral from the mother's mental health worker and, upon visit to the Minor home on April 21 and 21, found that there was inadequate food. She never returned to the apartment to check on the child, according to prosecutors; and, when she told her supervisor about the situation in May nothing was done other than sending a letter to Deanna Minor asked her to contact CPS.

She never called and the boy was found dead two weeks later.

Wayne County Prosecutors allege that Brown and Walker ignored reports that the  child's mother was increasingly incapable of caring for the child due to mental illness, and that he was at a continuing risk of harm.

Prosecutors say they two were "grossly negligent and reckless" in performing their duties because they failed to: 1) provide a safety plan to protect Aaron; 2) respond and follow through on reports of the mental health workers; 3) ask the police for a safety check; 4) file a petition with the juvenile court authorities; and 5) follow the CPS policy and procedure.

"We charged this case after much thought and deliberation," said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy in a statement. "We did not make this decision lightly. We must seek to hold these ‎defendants responsible for their alleged inaction. The ultimate result in this case was the death of a child that never should have happened."

Brown and Walker are each charged with involuntary manslaughter, a 15 year felony; child abuse second degree, a 10 year felony; and public officer – willful neglect of duty, which could add up to five years if they're convicted.

Borh Brown, 24, and Walker, 47, were scheduled to be arraigned Monday.

It's still, meantime, clear exactly how Aaron Minor died. The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the boy's death a homicide; but despite an autopsy and toxicology tests, said the cause of death was inconclusive.