State and local human service officials will decide if Freeborn County Child Protection agents followed protocol when investigating Makaio Lynn Radke and his family, but likely not until the criminal case against his accused killer is resolved, officials say.

Friday, April 27, 2001

State and local human service officials will decide if Freeborn County Child Protection agents followed protocol when investigating Makaio Lynn Radke and his family, but likely not until the criminal case against his accused killer is resolved, officials say.

A child mortality review panel is called to review departmental files any time the agency is involved with a family or circumstances that result in a child’s death, said Freeborn County Department of Human Services Director Darryl Meyer.

The state Department of Human Services has been notified of the 17-month-old boy’s death, and seemed to indicate they would hold the investigation until criminal proceedings are completed, said Ted Laird, Freeborn County Child Protection Services Department Supervisor.

&uot;We want to be careful not to make comments that could have an impact on the future legal action that may take place,&uot; Meyer said.

&uot;We have to allow law enforcement to do their jobs,&uot; said Minnesota Child Protection Services Director Dorothy Renstrom.

Last Friday, a local human services official had visited the home where Radke lived with his mother, her roommate and the roommate’s boyfriend, Paul Guttierez, who is accused of killing Radke. The child reportedly showed no signs of abuse Friday morning but was discovered dead with severe bruising and internal injuries the next morning, police say.

It’s unclear if local officials wanted to remove Radke from the home. Human Service officials can’t comment on their involvement with Radke and his family, but the panel’s findings will be public information once the investigation is completed, said Renstrom.

Counties generally investigate alleged maltreatment when they receive a report of acts fitting abuse or neglect criteria, said Renstrom.

Child protection workers can only recommend the courts remove a child from a home if that child is in imminent danger, Renstrom said. Law enforcement can remove children in an emergency, like if their parents have been arrested.

&uot;County staff can’t remove a child on their own authority,&uot; she said &uot;It’s not the county staff who makes the decision.&uot;

Short of removing a child from a home, social workers can attempt to protect children through voluntary cooperation with parents or, failing that, a court order forcing caregivers to cooperate. The parent can be required to participate in certain programs or take action, such as removing from the home a person considered dangerous to the child, Renstrom said.

If Radke was abused by Guttierez, it would be a rare case of abuse by someone other than a relative or parent’s companion, Renstrom said. Less than two percent of reported abuse cases involved a non-relative in 1999, the most recent year numbers are available.

In 1999, more than 11,000 children were documented as abused and neglected in Minnesota. Of those, 62 children suffered life-threatening injuries and 28 died, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Eighty percent of all offenders were victims’ parents.

Neglect is the most common form of maltreatment in Minnesota. It is usually failure of the child’s care giver to supply the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter or medical care; protect the child from conditions or actions which endanger the child; or take steps to ensure that a child is educated according to the law.

Exposing a child to certain drugs during pregnancy and causing emotional harm to a child may also be considered neglect.

Physical abuse is any physical injury, inflicted by a care giver upon a child other than by accidental means. It can range from minor bruises to severe internal injuries and death.