Child Death Investigation

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Juvenile Division is investigating the death of a 2 ½-year-old child from the 100 Block of East Gage Avenue in South Los Angeles.

On Thursday, March 4, 2010, the child was found unresponsive at home.  She was transported to a local hospital by paramedics where she was pronounced dead.  The child suffered unexplained injuries, and Juvenile Division detectives assumed investigative responsibility for this case.

The child’s mother and her boyfriend were arrested, but subsequently released pending further investigation.  The District Attorney’s Office has reviewed the case, and further investigation is being conducted.  There is no further information available at this time, and no other releases will be forthcoming unless criminal charges are filed. 

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact LAPD Juvenile Division detectives at 213-486-0580.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at (800)-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone numbers 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a mobile telephone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompt.

Comments

[JR]

Leave it up to ACU to jump the gun and mess up a chance for a good filing. ACU needs Homicide Detectives to handle suspected child abuse deaths, not Juvenile Detectives. Time and time again.

[Fabian Lizarraga]

What is a "Juvenile Detective"? I've been the CO here for 3 years and never once have Detectives assigned to Juvenile Division "jumped the gun" and messed up a filing. They have intervened to rescue kids from horrible and deplorable situations or rescued siblings when the victim has succumbed to injuries. A real detective will recognize that not all arrests lead to filings, and our partners in the prosecutoril field often require more in order to proceed with a filing. That doesn't mean that we as police officers don't have the obligation to intercede and arrest people when they are harming or have just harmed a child. But, I, like the dedicated people that work this Division, may not know anything. "JR" seems to have the answers, so I extend an invitation to you to do a loan here, and either be enlightened as to what our Detectives do, or perhaps you , with your vast Homicide experience, can educate us. Because we don't want this to be recurring "time and time again". Judging from your language, and the venue, it is safe to conjecture that you are in the Law enforcement field and on our Department. So, Let me know. As you can see, I can sign my real name and stand behind my words.

[Vincent Neglia]

Dear JR. I would like to call your attention to a few simple statistics. Juvenile Division responded to 72 child deaths in 2008. Six of those deaths were classified as Homicides by the Coroner. All six of the 2008 Homicides handled by Juvenile Division investigators (Juvenile Detectives) yielded felony filings for a 100% filing rate for 2008. Most of those 2008 cases have already gone through the judicial process. They each proved to be so tight that they ended with the defendant entering a plea of somewhere between 15-years to life, and 25-years to life.

In 2009, Juvenile Division investigated 68 deaths. Four of those deaths were classified as Homicides by the Coroner’s Office. All four of the Homicides have, again, been successfully filed with the DA. This also translates to a 100% filing rate for 2009 Homicides. One of the 2009 Homicides has already completed the judicial process. That case was also so tight that the suspect pled to 25-years to life. The other filed cases are still in various stages of prosecution.

It is noteworthy that there were three other deaths during course of 2008 and 2009 that by police standards amounted to homicides. However for different reasons, the Coroner’s Office could not classify those deaths as “Homicide.” Juvenile Detectives were able to get a felony filing for Endangering on one of those cases. Investigators are still working with the DA on different angles to bring charges on the other two “Undetermined” cases. This is a testimony to the dedication of Juvenile Division I/O’s who absolutely refuse to let anyone get away with the mistreatment of children.

Granted, the suspect pool in child related homicides tends to be smaller than the pool in other types of homicide investigations. However, in every child related homicide family members point the blame onto other family members, or simply try to make the event sound like an accident. It is only through the diligence, commitment, and attention to duty of the Juvenile Detectives that we are able to weed through the deception and find the truth of the matter.

Traditionally, Juvenile Division handles more 187’s per year than many geographic Areas. This is in addition to Juvenile Detective handling a Citywide myriad of child physical and sexual abuse cases. Physical Abuse cases run the full gamut on the spectrum of severity from a simple “boo-boo” on a 14-year old to burnt babies with broken skulls. This is the same unit that handles more sex cases than any Area in the City, ranging in severity from inappropriate touching to cases of full-on and on-going rapes of children.

As a long-term investigative OIC, I am willing to hold the investigative talent pool in Juvenile Division up to any Unit in the Department - any day or night of the week. Finally JR, I thank you for your Blog comment. If you are a member of LAPD, I welcome you to ask your C/O for a loan to our Division if you think you’re up to it. I welcome the opportunity to train you and to expose you to some hardcore investigations. Please note that unlike you, I’m including my full identity and contact information. Call me anytime.

Lt-II Vincent Neglia
Juvenile Division
Officer-in-Charge, Abused Child Section
(213) 486-0562

[Ed O'Shea]

My hat comes off to the Detectives at Juvenile Division! Crimes against children are the worst, and those guys over there at JD do an outstanding job. I know I couldn't do it and not be tempted to loose my professional objectivity on a regular basis. So keep up the good work guys.