TaJanay bailey was a ward of the state when she was beaten to death by her parents

[jlt080405]

Charity Bailey


Lawrence Green


TaJanay Bailey


By Tim Evans and Jon Murray
Star reporters Will Higgins and Vic Ryckaert contributed to this story.
Indystar.com

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...WS10/712010436

Charity Bailey and Lawrence Green had not completed all of the steps the Marion County juvenile court and state Department of Child Services required for them to get their children back, but on Aug. 30, a magistrate approved unsupervised trial visits with the children.

It was during one of those visits, less than three months later, that 3-year-old TaJanay Bailey was fatally beaten by her mother and Green, according to police.


The pair, both 20, face murder and neglect charges in the girl's death Tuesday.

TaJanay was a ward of the state when she died, but she had been returned to her mother and Green for a 30-day trial stay Oct. 31. That step occurred after the couple had several successful, shorter day and overnight visits.

Juvenile court records released Friday shed some light on how the Child In Need of Services case involving TaJanay was handled by the court and DCS, but they still leave many unanswered questions.

The biggest: Why did DCS seek approval to begin the unsupervised visits when Bailey and Green had not completed all of the requirements ordered?

The documents released by the court involve the case initiated in May 2006 after DCS found TaJanay to be a victim of abuse.

They reveal Bailey did not have stable housing or income as of mid-August, and that Green still needed to complete drug education and participate in random drug testing.

"Once (Green) completes his parenting class and at least half of his drug education class, he will be able to participate in home-based counseling with (Bailey) at which time trial reunification could become in effect," case manager Tara C. Hayes wrote in a report prepared for the Aug. 30 hearing. Hayes' supervisor, Karon Donaldson, signed off on the report.

It was at that hearing that Magistrate Scott B. Stowers approved the DCS request to begin the trial visits "upon positive recommendations" of the home-based counselor and a guardian appointed by the court to represent the interests of TaJanay.

The file contained no documents, other than a notice of a hearing scheduled for Nov. 27 -- the day TaJanay died -- to show if or when such recommendations were made.

The guardian appointed to represent TaJanay did not know that the 30-day trial visit with Bailey and Green had begun, said Cynthia Booth, executive director of Child Advocates Inc., an agency that represents the interests of children in Marion County cases.

The guardian learned of the move on Nov. 9, when she visited the foster home where TaJanay had been living, Booth said Friday.

The general practice, Booth said, would be for DCS to inform the guardian before a 30-day placement begins.

She supported the release of records.

"I think there is no better reason to open this case to the light of day than what has happened to this child," Booth said during the hearing.

DCS officials declined to comment specifically on TaJanay's case after the records were released Friday night. The agency's attorneys, however, had lobbied Marion County juvenile court Judge Marilyn Moores to release the entire DCS case file -- 20 inches thick -- in tandem with the court file.

Instead, Moores plans to review redactions made to the larger cache of records to ensure they restrict identifications and other items as required by state and federal law. Those records, which the judge plans to release Monday, should have additional details and notes about the final three months of TaJanay's life.

DCS Director James Payne said he will be prepared to speak more about the agency's involvement with the family when those records are made public.

The public "will see that lots of work was done," Payne said. "It was done in the home. It involved a lot of fingers (from DCS). . . . It was being done in a professional manner."

His staff is working on its own investigation, which Payne said would take another 10 to 14 days. He then will issue public conclusions about the handling of the case and a proposed resolution.

Pending that review, Payne has assigned administrative desk duty to Hayes, the caseworker who has worked for DCS for seven months, and Donaldson, her supervisor, who joined DCS in 2003.

The two are "devastated," Payne said. "They take it very personally."

The Indianapolis Star also has requested records of an earlier CHINS case in which TaJanay was removed from the home in 2004.

here is link Charity Bailey's plea deal and some other info
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...AL18/805080488

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Oh my god! What in the world gave DCS the idea that it was even a ounce of a good idea to return this child?

"...the entire DCS case file -- 20 inches thick..." 20 INCHES!!! This kid was only 3 years old. If she had been removed once, the incubator should never had contact with this child again - much less returned.

We should just keep returning the kids until unfit parents kill, maim, or otherwise destroy a life?
NO SECOND CHANCE for abusers... the kids never get a chance at all.

[Undeniable Truth]

Another excellent job by the court system and child protection services. I'd applaud them, but I can't clap well with my middle fingers sticking up.

[Jaded]

Just fuckin wonderful....
Great job DCS! I think some of these assholes that work for DCS should be brought up on charges. Or shot, along with the dumbass parents.

[~Absynthe~]

This sick POS was pregnant at the time of TaJanay's death and gave birth to a son in March, she also had a younger son. I think she needs all her reproductive organs riped out! She won't be needing them where she is going! DFC should be held responsible also, but it looks like Gov. Mitch Daniels isn't going to do a damn thing about it. I didn't vote for the dumb ass the first time and he sure won't get my vote in the next election!

[JenJen1995]

"Pending that review, Payne has assigned administrative desk duty to Hayes, the caseworker who has worked for DCS for seven months, and Donaldson, her supervisor, who joined DCS in 2003.

The two are "devastated," Payne said. "They take it very personally."

I am SUREthey are personally offended that they won't get to ride around all day in state cars on state time, on state gas doing PERSONAL errands. Even if they made legit decisions, the judge that did allowed this needs to have his head examined- by way of his ASS...Apparently that's where he keeps it.

[SqueakyClean]

I think all child abusers should be put in prisons that are staffed entirely by former victims of severe abuse.

CPS is a joke. They do anything to reunite kids with sperm and egg donors, regardless of how evil and cruel said donors are.

RIP, sweet little girl. I'm so sorry. :(

[Mom of 4]

DCS Director James Payne said he will be prepared to speak more about the agency's involvement with the family when those records are made public.

The public "will see that lots of work was done," Payne said. "It was done in the home. It involved a lot of fingers (from DCS). . . . It was being done in a professional manner."

His staff is working on its own investigation, which Payne said would take another 10 to 14 days. He then will issue public conclusions about the handling of the case and a proposed resolution.

Pending that review, Payne has assigned administrative desk duty to Hayes, the caseworker who has worked for DCS for seven months, and Donaldson, her supervisor, who joined DCS in 2003.

The two are "devastated," Payne said. "They take it very personally."

The Indianapolis Star also has requested records of an earlier CHINS case in which TaJanay was removed from the home in 2004.

Just fucking incredible!!! This has me so angry I truely am at a loss for words and that never fucking happens trust me!

Thank you jlt080405 for posting this story. I now have an example of what not to do for the 3 new, fresh out of school caseworkers I am training. As we speak they are researching some info on this case for me. At least this little baby girl's death will serve a purpose for me to teach 3 future caseworkers what happens when you forget about the only important thing in these cases, the child's safety.:(

[maryhaze]

& this shit is why i can't do foster care. reunification my big fat white ass!!!!!! i'd rather go to jail for eviscerating these bastards than subject that poor child to their cruelty!

[jlt080405]

thank you all for your comments, i am all out of thanks, but this story really hit a chord for me.

[Mom of 4]

Originally Posted by jlt080405

thank you all for your comments, i am all out of thanks, but this story really hit a chord for me.

I again want to thank you for posting it. I have always used cases when I am training newbies. By cases I mean cases where the system failed and a child paid the price for it. This case right here is beyond fucked up and it's inexcusable.

You know what makes these cases even more tragic to me?? 99% of the time there is nobody to speak for the victims. Nobody to sue the ass off CAS, DCF or whatever the governing agency is that cost a child their life. They are wards of the state and while there will be an initial outcry from appalled taxpayers that dies quickly and the little victims are soon forgotten. There is no family demanding change and justice for the little TaJanay's in the world. That's a large part of why it continues to happen.:(

[Tazzzz]

Wow, There was justice for little TaJanay, Lawrence agreed to accept a 65-year term. I am shocked and happy to see the amount of time he will spend in Prison for this.


INDIANAPOLIS (Indiana's NewsCenter) - An Indianapolis man pleaded guilty to murder charges in the beating death of a three-year-old girl.

Lawrence Green agreed to accept a 65-year prison term for the November, 2007 death of his girlfriend's daughter.

The child was returned to the home from child welfare just weeks before her death despite evidence of abuse.

http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/ne.../42923682.html

R.I.P.
TaJanay Bailey

[Tazzzz]

I didnt see that any one mentioned that Charity was 12 weeks preggo at the time. And the court documents talked about the first son Lawrence Green Jr.

Moores set a hearing for Wednesday to consider a request to release earlier documents from TaJanay's juvenile records and records involving her 6-month-old brother.

That child, Lawrence Green Jr., has been returned to state custody. Brizzi said Bailey is 12 weeks pregnant with a third child, and he said the state would seek custody of that child, too, when it is born

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/1...9/detail.html#
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Charity Bailey has pleaded guilty to felony neglect and faces up to 59 years in prison at sentencing Dec. 19.Green, set to go on trial next month, faces the possibility of life imprisonment without parole if convicted

http://www.indy.com/posts/court-upho...n-girl-s-death


TaJanay Bailey

[twinklestars]

How upsetting

She was such an adorable little girl. I bet those last two pics were from her foster parents home. I bet they are devastated. Something has to change in the system, it seems the bad social workers far out weigh the good.

[piXyNinjette]

Looks like she would have been better off in that nice neighborhood with foster parents that seemed to take care of her. What an absolutley ADORABLE little girl she was... So sad

[Earth2Amanda]

I agree, those people who didn't do their job and let her back with those douchebags should be charged just as well.

[moonlilly1981]

That little girl was so beautiful with so much love and light in her eyes despite what she had gone through. Why the fuck cant social services just leave them with their foster parents who love them so much? When will they learn that you cant rehab child abusing drug addicts. Fucking bastards.

[Kalehue]

A beautiful child. So sad. I am amazed and impressed with the sentences being doled out to her parents. Hopefully her little brother and baby #3 will end up in good homes and will enjoy the wonderful life that little TaJanay was robbed of.

RIP TaJanay.

[HotReadingMama]

I just read through all of the posts here and became sick to my stomach. I am not one to post that on every article. She was gorgeous.....

[HotReadingMama]

Oh and. At the risk of being cursed at. I know someone who works for DCS here in FL. She makes less than $30,000 a year. They are severely underfunded and understaffed and actually have to do eeny meeny miny mo type decisions to decide who gets a visit. It is HORRIBLE and I am not defending, Im just saying.

[silvahalo68]

...Investigators said Lawrence Green, 20, used to hang Tajanay Bailey on a hook as punishment for wetting herself. Bailey had been repeatedly beaten prior to her death, police said.
[...}
When a child services worker fails to do his or her job, the results can be deadly. Despite the pleas of three-year-old Tajanay Bailey's foster mother, Janice Springfield, Child Protective Services returned Tajanay to her mother and her live-in boyfriend in the dreaded Phoenix apartments last month. "I told Child Services that mom was no good, and that boyfriend was no good,” Springfield said. A month later the little girl is dead after allegedly being beaten to death by her mother and her boyfriend. "She was systematically tortured over the week of Thanksgiving by her mother's fiance and by the mother," [Marion County Prosecutor Carl] Brizzi said. "We believe both of the defendants actively participated in the abuse." An autopsy found Tajanay died from blunt force trauma to her head, neck and abdomen.

It is clear and with no doubt in my mind that these two bastards she get the death penalty. A person capable of inflicting such heinous and grave harm to a child and do so in a torturous manner should not see the light of day ever again.

"I think there is no better reason to open this case to the light of day than what has happened to this child".. .

The light of day was Tajanay. The people surrounding her and inflicting the abuse that killed her never saw that never will understand the gravity of what they killed. Innocence of a child is the very light of day. May her murders live their remaining days in anguish and misery. There is hope that there will be justice, that is my prayer.

Kisses sweet Tajanay...an angel amongst angels.




Tajanay repeatedly beaten

[Dakota Valkyrie]

The mother of 3-year-old TaJanay Bailey was sentenced to 35 years in prison today for her role in the girl's abuse death.

Charity Bailey had pleaded guilty to four counts of felony neglect, including two involving violence toward TaJanay and failing to seek medical treatment.

"You were passive toward the torture of your daughter," Marion Superior Court Judge Kurt Eisgruber told Bailey, 22, before delivering a sentence five years longer than prosecutors had requested, but less than the maximum 56 years.
[...]

Charity Bailey's attorney, Ray Casanova, presented extensive evidence and testimony during today's five-hour hearing about Bailey's own tumultuous upbringing and domestic violence by Green. Advocacy group And Justice For All collected about 100 signatures urging a lenient sentence.

But the judge said Bailey had ultimate responsibility for her daughter's safey.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...D=200990522034