Carolina toddler dead DSS failure

SHELBY - A 2-year-old boy is dead and his mother and stepfather have been charged with murder and child abuse, according to a Cleveland County Sheriff's Office.


Deputies charged Kathy Lynn Swafford, 20, and Dwight Stacy Justice, 42, both of 867-30 E. Zion Church Road, Shelby, with one count each of felony child abuse and felony murder.


The couple is being held in the Cleveland County Detention Center, with no bond.


Cleveland County EMS responded to the home Friday at 1:20 p.m. after a caller said the child had been sick for a couple days, according to a sheriff's official. The caller also stated the boy had a knot on his head and had been throwing up blood, deputies said.


"When EMS got there, they knew it was something more and contacted us," said Cleveland County Sheriff's Capt. Bobby Steen.


Steen said they are not sure where the call came from at this time.


EMS took the 2-year-old boy to Cleveland Regional Medical Center for treatment before being airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. He died Saturday at 3:18 p.m.


"It appears that he died of trauma injuries to head and body," Steen said.


"When it is a child involved, everyone gets into that extra gear," he said. "We want to solve it quick.

"We have feelings too," he said. "No one likes to see a child hurt.
"

T2sister's Comment
The family called DSS several times expressing their concerns for this little boy's safety but nothing was done and now he's dead. This child's story is very much like Chris' story. For more information go to the Shelby Star. There are several articles about this case at that web site.
Leave a comment tell your state representatives you want DSS to do their job!