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The
pair of 7-year-olds died thin and frail, each while living with
people granted custody to care for them.
One, Chandler Grafner, died May 6 after he was removed from the
Denver apartment of his half brother's father, their home since
at least January.
The other, Eryn Reyne "LoReyna" Barea, died March 9 at her aunt's
house in Evans, a Weld County town of 15,000. She had lived there
with her four siblings since December.
Denver prosecutors charged two people with Chandler's death just
days after he died at a hospital. Weld County prosecutors haven't
charged anyone, though they are expected to make a decision by this
week.
Social-service caseworkers touched the children's lives at one time
or another, either to assess the child-worthiness of a relative
to care for them or to investigate complaints of abuse.
Yet each child reportedly withered away. It remains unclear just
what caseworkers knew or tried to do.
In the end, nothing or no one saved them.
"A great percentage of children who die from abuse or neglect are
known to the system," said Adoree Blair, a child advocate who heads
Integrated Family Services in Denver. "They are put there by social
services, and it's very concerning because there is little that
can prevent it."
School reported concerns.
LoReyna and Chandler may have died similar deaths, but the parallels
end there. The justice system designed to prosecute those responsible
for their deaths has moved along distinctly different routes: one
quick and decisive, the other more methodical and measured.
Within days of Chandler's death, Denver prosecutors filed first-degree
murder charges against Jon Phillips, 26, who had won custody of
the boy in January, and his common-law wife, Sarah Berry, 21. Prosecutors
accuse the couple of the "malnourishment and mistreatment" of Chandler.
Phillips is the biological father of Chandler's half brother, who
has been placed in foster care. The boys' biological mother had
a history of neglecting them, court and police records show.
Teachers at Holm Elementary School in Denver said they had reported
bruising on Chandler's body to child-protection workers. The boy
stopped attending classes in March.
It's unclear whether workers followed up to check on the boy's welfare.
Social-service officials have declined to comment on Chandler's
case, citing confidentiality rules and the ongoing criminal investigation.
Nevertheless, Mayor John Hickenlooper said he was confident Denver
officials met their responsibilities. "We are going to explore every
possible situation where something different could have been done,"
he said.
State and county social-service officials Friday announced they
would conduct separate reviews of Chandler's death to determine
whether the systems to protect the child failed.
Denver's probe will seek to answer two questions, said Roxane White,
director of Denver's Department of Human Services: "Could Chandler's
death have been prevented, and is there more our community can do
to provide greater protection for our children?"
State law requires a review of a child's death if it occurred within
five years of any contact with the social- service system.
None of girl's relatives talking
In Evans, prosecutors are still studying whether to charge anyone
with LoReyna's death. The 4-foot girl was just 35 pounds when her
aunt called 911 because the child was unresponsive.
Investigators paused at explanations that bruises on the child were
from playing, and initial results of an autopsy were inconclusive.
Additional tests were to be done on the child's organs.
The aunt, Genevieve Barea, 45, of Evans, and her boyfriend, Danny
Partch, 47, were granted custody of the girl in April 2005. They
received permanent custody following the death of LoReyna's biological
mother, Margaret Barea, after a car accident. Gene vieve Barea is
her sister.
The family refused to comment Friday, and police investigators did
not return telephone messages.
Weld County coroner's investigator Chris Robillard said their report
is completed and awaiting review by prosecutors.
A key difference in LoReyna's death is the absence of witnesses
other than family members, Robillard said. The girl and her siblings
were home- schooled and had little outside contact, he said.
"There are lots of people and many kids, but everyone is related
and no one is talking," he said.
LoReyna's siblings were placed in foster care pending the outcome
of the investigation.
Weld County court records show custody battles between the Barea
sisters were heated and filled with allegations of sexual abuse
and neglect.
Weld County human-services officials would not discuss the Barea
case, citing confidentiality rules, but director Judy Griego said
her office would react strongly to any wrongdoing by caseworkers.
Staff writer George Merritt contributed to this report.
Staff writer David Migoya can be reached at 303-954-1506 or dmigoya@denverpost.com
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