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Teddy Foltz estate seeks $3M from former Mahoning CSB chief
David Arnold faces multiple charges in federal civil lawsuit
YOUNGSTOWN
The administrator of the estate of Teddy Foltz, the 14-year-old Struthers boy who was beaten to death in January 2013, has sued David Arnold, the former interim executive director of the Mahoning County Children Services Board, for at least $3 million in damages.
The federal civil lawsuit, filed Wednesday by Atty. David L. Engler, accuses Arnold of refusing to investigate reports that Foltz was abused, which Arnold purportedly knew of before the boy died Jan. 26, 2013, thereby further endangering Teddy.
The suit, which demands a jury trial, also accuses Arnold of refusing to cooperate with Struthers police, who contacted him concerning the case.
Even after the boy’s death, Arnold continued to deny Teddy suffered abuse; and he knowingly prepared and distributed a false report saying the boy’s injuries were accidental, according to the complaint.
Arnold, who was CSB interim director between Jan. 7 and July 26, 2013, “acted wilfully, wantonly, maliciously and in reckless disregard for the rights” of Foltz, the suit says.
Arnold and the current CSB director, Atty. Randall Muth, declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Struthers Police Detective Jeff Lewis, who investigated the criminal case, could not be reached to comment.
Zaryl Bush is serving 33 years to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to murder, tampering with evidence and child endangering in Teddy’s death.
Shain Widdersheim, Teddy’s mother and Bush’s former girlfriend, is serving 15 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and three counts of child endangering.
The federal civil lawsuit, in which Arnold is the only defendant, is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Sara Lioi in Akron.