Another child has died while under Scioto County CPS care, this time an 18-month-old girl. Now the mother of the little girl has been arrested and charged with child endangerment.
This is the third child to die while under CPS supervision in the past 3 years. Baby Dylan Groves died in 2019 and five-year-old Annabel Green was killed in July of 2020. In September of 2017, Margarita White was called an “Animal” by the judge. She was sentenced to life for the death of young Tyler “TJ” Caudill.
According to Portsmouth Police Chief Debby Brewer and Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman, Scioto County’s newly formed Special Victims Unit is leading the investigation into the child’s death.
The investigation began on January 6, when law enforcement learned an 18-month-old girl was brought to Southern Ohio Medical Center and later pronounced dead. Her body was sent to Montgomery County for an autopsy.
Events of the Tragic Day
The little girl was in the custody of Scioto County Children’s Services and had been placed in kinship care. However, the biological mother was permitted overnight visits with the toddler. Sources said the child was returned to the kinship caregiver from a visit with the mother in bad shape. According to the source, the mother said the baby was sleeping and took her directly to bed when dropping her off. The kinship caregiver checked on the sleeping baby and realized something was very wrong. They immediately rushed the baby to the hospital but it was too late.
Portsmouth Police Detective Chuck Crapyou and Scioto County Sheriff Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel responded to the hospital. Both the Portsmouth Police Department and the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office are members of a newly formed Special Victims Unit that Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman spearheaded in 2021.
Prior Police Contact on Record
Police reports show that concerned relatives of the baby and its siblings called police to report possible child endangerment over the summer. However, police found nothing suspicious at the mother’s home at the time.
According to reports, the concerned relatives were scolded about filing false police reports. They were warned that the mother (Kristiana Edwards) could even file stalking charges against the caller.
The Jan. 6th Investigation
.Officers confiscated electronic devices belonging to the mother, Kristina Edwards, 36, of Charles Street, and Larry Weaver, Jr., 22, of Dexter Street. Officials then searched the homes of Edwards and Weaver.
Detectives recovered 29 grams of Meth (Ice), 13 grams of Heroin/Fentanyl, marijuana, scales, a firearm, and $4,200 in cash. The controlled substances were forwarded to the Bureau of Criminal Investigations for testing.
Police arrested Kristina Edwards for child endangerment, trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, and meth in the vicinity of a juvenile. Larry L. Weaver was also arrested for child endangerment, trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, and meth in the vicinity of a juvenile.
Portsmouth Municipal Court set their bond $300,000. Weaver is also being held on a probation holder out of Common Pleas Court, with no bond.
Problems at CPS
Scioto County Children’s Services became the target of a state investigation as the result of Baby Dylan’s death, with the state actually taking over the agency for some time. Little Annabell’s death came shortly after Jason Mantell took over as director of the agency. Two caseworkers involved with the Groves and Greene deaths were later indicted for child endangerment and tampering with evidence.
What Happens Next?
This is an ongoing investigation that will result in more charges being presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury after the autopsy has been completed.
When a child dies, it is quite common for the manner of death to be listed as “undetermined” (assuming there is no evidence of physical trauma). A toxicology report takes several weeks to come back. If there are red flags on that report, the information will help tell the story to prosecutors.
Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel @ 740-351-1091.