3 social workers plead not guilty in Pa. death

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Two co-founders of a social-services firm charged in the wake of the starvation death of a disabled Philadelphia girl have pleaded not guilty.

MultiEthnic Behavioral Health co-founders Michal Kamuvaka and Solomon Manamela pleaded not guilty to fraud charges Friday. Former MultiEthnic employee Mariam Coulibaly also pleaded not guilty.

Federal officials say social workers from the company failed to make home visits to 14-year-old Danieal Kelly, who weighed just 42 pounds when she died in 2006. The girl’s mother pleaded guilty to third-degree murder earlier this week.

Authorities charged four company founders and four social workers of the now-defunct firm with fraud and a ninth with perjury on Friday.

The federal indictment says managers forged documents before city audits to cover up the missed visits.