10-year-old Dead in Foster Care after Judge Removed Boy from Aunt’s Custody in Indiana; Aunt Devastated after the Tragic Loss
Tragically, a young boy from Indiana lost his life while under foster care, as investigators have determined that his death was the result of a homicide.
The incident happened on April 27. The Porter County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Liberty Township where Stevens was in foster care, due to a medical emergency. He was transported to the hospital, where he was later declared deceased.
The circumstances surrounding his death have not been disclosed, but it was determined on Wednesday that his death was caused by mechanical asphyxia, leading to a ruling of homicide. According to Cleveland Clinic, mechanical asphyxia is caused by an object or physical force that obstructs a person’s ability to breathe.
Despite enduring significant trauma in his early years, he was often described as exuding a vibrant energy and zest for life. In 2018, he was taken away from his parents as a result of their battle with substance abuse.
According to family members, his father tragically passed away due to a blood infection linked to drug addiction, while his mother has been facing ongoing challenges with addiction.
According to the boy’s aunt, Ana Parrish-Parker, he was affectionately known as Levi by his loved ones. Parrish-Parker was granted custody of Levi and his younger sister in May 2018, following a two-week period where the children were under the care of the state’s Department of Child Services (DCS).
Parrish-Parker held them in custody for almost a year. According to her, Levi was a source of immense happiness for those around him.
“When he woke up in the morning, he was full of energy,” Parrish-Parker said. He had a deep love for exploring nature and spending time outdoors with his sister.
Levi and his sister were attending therapy sessions twice a week as mandated by DCS, as reported by Parrish-Parker. She informed DCS about Levi’s behavioral challenges at school and was advised to schedule more therapy sessions each week.
They had no time to experience childhood. The judge made a decision to remove the children from care, with the involvement of DCS. Unfortunately, I was not given the opportunity to personally express my opposition to the children receiving additional therapy,” she expressed.
DCS placed the children into the foster care system, and Levi’s sister found a loving family through adoption.
The Porter County Sheriff’s Office stated that the investigation into the tragic incident is still ongoing, with detectives tirelessly working on the case since its inception.
