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Trumbull CSB chief defends agency in 2003 case of child’s death
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
The executive director of Trumbull Children Services has provided new information about the death of a child.
A news release from Nick Kerosky, Trumbull Children Services’ executive director, says medical professionals saw 3-year-old Auntavia Atkins 17 times between September 2002 and August 2003 before Auntavia died at the hands of Ethel Wilbert-Bethea of North Bank Street in Cortland on Sept. 3, 2003.
Auntavia’s case was mentioned in an article in The Vindicator on Sunday.
Wilbert-Bethea was sentenced to 21 years in prison after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the child’s death. The child was not in Children Services custody, nor was Auntavia in the agency’s foster-care program. Wilbert-Bethea was not a foster parent.
Members of Auntavia’s family were present at four court hearings, “and no concerns were expressed at these hearings regarding the Bethea home,” the news release says.
“CSB conducted home visits to the Betheas every month in the 10 months preceding the granting of legal custody to the Beatheas,” it says. “CSB properly responded to any calls it received prior to Auntavia’s death.”
In Sunday’s article, Fannie Parks and her daughter, Markita Parks, both of Warren, said a Trumbull Children Services caseworker asked Fannie Parks to take custody of Auntavia in the weeks prior to Auntavia’s death, and Fannie Parks agreed, but the agency never brought Auntavia to her.
Markita Parks and her mother, who were foster parents under children services at the time, already had custody of Auntavia’s brother. Markita Parks eventually adopted the boy, Markita said.
Markita Parks said Angel Diggs, Auntavia’s mother, and a Children Services caseworker told her and her mother that Wilbert-Bethea had contacted the agency three times to tell it that Wilbert-Bethea wasn’t able to handle Auntavia.
Kerosky said last week he had checked into the allegations and talked with the caseworker Fannie Parks named.
“There’s no support that it ever happened. I don’t believe it ever happened,” Kerosky said.
“While the death of a child is always a tragedy, it is unfair and unethical to assume that a death means that there must be wrongdoing on the part of CSB,” the news release says.
“Bad people do bad things to children, and those people need to face the consequences. However, it is important that the public record be set straight because the credibility of CSB has an impact on the ability to protect children.”
“Even one child’s death is too many,” the statement continued. “The truth is there are a lot of dangers out there for children ... drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, poverty and uncaring or even violent parents. That is precisely why there is a need for Trumbull County Children Services.
“This agency is made up of caring and committed staff who are dedicated to helping children and families.”