CASE OF MISSING LAS VEGAS TWO YEAR OLD FOSTER CHILD REVISITED

                            
 

Articles:

2/8/07: NEWS ALERT: New Family Services Report Focuses On Missing Toddler

2/7/07: Clark County report stirs new interest in girl's disappearance

2/6/07: I-Team: Concealed Report Related to Missing Foster Child [investigative report]

2/2/07: Las Vegas Mystery: Little Girl Lost, Parts I and II [investigative report]

NEWS ALERT: New Family Services Report Focuses On Missing Toddler

February 8, 2007

(Las Vegas, NV) -- A Clark County Family Services case review has surfaced, and it focuses on the care of a toddler who disappeared nearly a year ago. The "Review-Journal" says the report details the history of the foster parents who were caring for two-year-old Everlyse Cabrera.

She disappeared from her North Las Vegas foster family's home last June and has not been seen since. According to the report, Manuel and Vilma Carrascal told investigators the child opened their front door and walked out during the night. But a police investigation went nowhere after the couple and other family members refused follow-up interviews.

The report also expressed concerns on whether the Carrascals were properly trained to be foster parents and an investigation that another foster child was seriously burned in the couple's home in 2005. Everlyse's parents have filed a lawsuit, alleging that Family Services put the child in jeopardy by placing her with foster parents who were not properly investigated or trained.

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Clark County report stirs new interest in girl's disappearance

Feb 7, 2007 11:31 AM PST

Clark County child welfare officials have released a foster family review prepared after two-year-old Everlyse Cabrera disappeared last June.

The document doesn't provide any new leads in the mystery of the little girl's disappearance while being cared-for by a foster family. She hasn't been found -- and police say the investigation is stalled.

But the report is stirring questions about whether county officials withheld information in the case. A county spokesman says officials didn't hide anything. He says the report obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal was prepared by a lawyer in anticipation of litigation in the case.

The seven-page case review -- dated June 29th -- includes a history of Manuel and Vilma "Vhee" Carrascal as foster parents before Everlyse disappeared June 10th.

The Carrascals initially told North Las Vegas police that Everlyse opened the front door and disappeared sometime during the night. Family members have since refused to be interviewed.

Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com 

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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I-Team: Concealed Report Related to Missing Foster Child

February 6, 2007
By Colleen McCarty, Investigative Reporter

http://www.lasvegasnow.com/global/story.asp?s=6048082

Concealed Report Related to Missing Foster Child

I-Team Obtains Foster Family Case Review

Las Vegas Mystery: Little Girl Lost

Concealed Report Related to Missing Foster Child I-Team Obtains Foster Family Case Review Las Vegas Mystery: Little Girl Lost Check All | Clear All

State Assemblywoman Susan Gerhardt sits on the Blue Ribbon Panel reviewing child death in Clark County. "It's really disturbing information. What particularly bothers me is we weren't able to see it."

Insult to injury was added a few days later when the I-Team exposed the contents of the "Carrascal Foster Home Case Review" -- an examination of the foster home where 2-year-old Everlyse Cabrera disappeared.

Also on LasVegasNow.com

Blue Ribbon Panel-Child Death Review Minutes Carrascal Foster Home Case Review Continued Case Review: Carrascal Foster Home CPS Report: Glossary of Acronyms Las Vegas Mystery: Little Girl Lost, Part 2 Las Vegas Mystery: Little Girl Lost Blue Ribbon Panel Reviews Child Deaths

Eyewitness News was the first to make public documents censored by Clark County, eight pages of a report containing information about endangered children.

After failing to follow-up on those children months ago, the Department of Family Services is now working to account for their safety.

Carrascal Foster Home Case Review Continued

Read the missing 8 pages from the Child Protective Services' Report.

During a meeting of the Blue Ribbon Panel-Child Death Review in Clark County, DFS Director Tom Morton revealed he had no knowledge of 55 cases flagged last November.

Faced with pressure from county, state and federal officials, DFS now says it's working to identify the 55 cases, though the consultant who wrote the report insists he has provided that information on numerous occasions.

The county has said it could take up to two weeks to complete its review. Those results, Eyewitness News was told, will be made public.

The county also concealed a report related to the disappearance of Everlyse Cabrera. She is the 2-year-old who went missing from her foster home last June.

The Channel 8 I-Team first reported its contents last week. Now, a state lawmaker is calling for the county to make it public.

The state's blue ribbon panel on child death requested the report several months ago. Members hoped to include it in their final review of Clark County's child welfare system.

They didn't get it, but some members believe they can and should add it now. And that's exactly what they plan to do.

State Assemblywoman Susan Gerhardt sits on the Blue Ribbon Panel reviewing child death in Clark County. "It's really disturbing information. What particularly bothers me is we weren't able to see it."

For the last year, Gerhardt has participated in lengthy meetings, fought to learn more about specific child deaths, and has been denied access to key information. The situation came to head last week when it was revealed the county censored a report it provided to the panel.

Insult to injury was added a few days later when the I-Team exposed the contents of the "Carrascal Foster Home Case Review" -- an examination of the foster home where 2-year-old Everlyse Cabrera disappeared.

Gerhardt continued, "I think in light of the fact that we still have a little girl missing out there, I don't understand the reluctance to disclose."

The review outlines system failures.

Consultant Ed Cotton found that no caseworkers ever visited the home, though the Carrascal's had seven foster children.

A 3-year-old in their care suffered second and third degree burns, allegedly from hot soup. Though a Child Protective Services investigation was ordered, it never happened. And in the aftermath the county renewed the Carrascal's foster license, despite the family's failure to complete the required training.

"If there's any information at all that can be gleaned from looking at Ed Cotton's observations, we should take a look and learn from that," Assemblywomen Susan Gerhardt said.

The county claims the review -- paid for with taxpayer dollars -- was conducted in quote, "anticipation of litigation." In other words, they expected Everlyse Cabrera's parents would sue.

They did. And though the case is in the discovery phase, the family's attorney claims the county has denied the report's very existence.

Attorney David Gibson said, "We were asking for an Ed Cotton report. They're telling us there isn't an Ed Cotton report. We find out from your report that it was a file review or something like that. They knew what we were asking for, I don't know why they didn't give it to us."

Gibson says he has since requested the review by its formal title and still been denied a copy. He plans to file a motion with the court to force the county to release it.

Gerhardt plans to insist the review be included as part of the Blue Ribbon Panel's final report. From her seat in Carson City, she hopes to channel her frustration into positive change for children.

If you have any information about her disappearance, please call 1-800-THE-LOST.

Email your comments to Investigative Reporter Colleen McCarty.

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Las Vegas Mystery: Little Girl Lost

February 2, 2007
By Colleen McCarty, Investigative Reporter

Everlyse Cabrera would have celebrated her third birthday last week, but her mom has all but missed has missed the terrible two's.

It's been seven months since Everlyse Cabrera disappeared from her foster home and police admit they are no closer to finding her.

For the first time, the detectives working her case are speaking publicly in hopes of getting a break in the case.

North Las Vegas police detectives Sayoko Fay, Jimmy Watson, and Dave Molnar temper frustration with commitment. To better understand these detectives, you have to go no further than Diamond Point Court, where Everlyse was last seen.

"We think about it all the time, and that's what we need the public to do. We need them to think about it all the time because it's the smallest thing that it going to turn this around," said Detective Sayoko Fay, North Las Vegas Police Dept.

Seven months into the search and the detectives find themselves revisiting the first 24 hours after the reported disappearance and their initial contact with the foster family, Manuel and Vhee Carrascal, and their sons who are 14-years-old and 34-years-old.

"According to their statements, they discovered her missing around 7:30 in the morning. However, it wasn't reported to law enforcement until sometime between noon and 12:30 p.m. that day, so we were already behind the 8 ball," said Detective Jimmy Watson, North Las Vegas Police Dept.

The Carrascal's tell police the two-year-old must have unlocked the front door by climbing on a chair. Yet, despite the efforts of law enforcement, volunteers, and neighbors no one can find evidence of Everlyse or of a crime.

"You do get that very unsettling feeling you know you have a two-year-old out there. It's June, it's hot and you hate to think it, but at that point, you know something's wrong," Detective Fay said.

Following standard procedure, the detectives question the Carrascal family. But a second interview the next day stops short and the silence is deafening.

"They expressed their concerns that you know we were questioning them and wanted some answers. You know we drilled them pretty hard so maybe they felt nervous. I think anybody would. At that point, they decided they would seek legal representation," Detective Watson said.

The Carrascal's are not considered suspects and without evidence of a crime, legally the detectives must rely on cooperation which they have not received.

Attorney Edward "Randy" Miley represents the family. The police say they have contacted the attorney numerous times and have never received a return call.

"At this point, I can't make a comment. I'm sorry," Miley told Eyewitness News.

The Carrascal's are also not commenting despite repeated attempts by the Eyewitness News I-Team to contact them.

"I'll say to the Carrascal family, at any time that you feel like you want to come in and talk to me, I want to talk to you. There's a little girl who is missing. Somebody knows what has happened to her," Watson said.

Until they find that somebody, Watson, Molnar, and Fay will keep trying.

Email your comments to Reporter Colleen McCarty.

Chris Saldana, Reporter Blue Ribbon Panel Reviews Child Deaths Eight crucial pages detailing horrific cases of child abuse in Clark County have been left out of a Child Protective Services report being considered by a blue ribbon panel. Read on for the missing information obtained by Eyewitness News.  More>>

Edward Lawrence, Reporter Detectives to Re-Canvass For Everlyse Cabrera It's been a little more than three months since anyone saw Everylyse Cabrera. Police are at a dead end in trying to find the two-and-a-half-year-old. Eyewitness News has found out detectives are now hoping to jump-start the case.   More>>

Edward Lawrence, Reporter Foster Parents of Everlyse Cabrera Seek Restraining Order There's still no sign of a missing North Las Vegas girl 17 days after she disappeared. Now there is a new twist in the disappearance. More>>

Chris Saldaña, Reporter Search For Missing Child Shifts Gears The active search is off because police don't have any new leads in the Everlyse Cabrera case. They are now targeting the valley's Hispanic community in an effort to generate new clues. More>>

Team Coverage Reward Offered in Las Vegas Missing Toddler Case More family members arrived in Las Vegas over the weekend to help in the search for missing Everlyse Cabrera.  A reward of $15,000 is now being offered for information on the missing 2-year-old. More>>

Colleen McCarty, Investigative Reporter Search Keeps Heading in Foster Parents' Direction The I-Team has learned new information about the local foster family that was taking care of 2-year-old Everlyse Cabrera when she disappeared. More>>

Part 2 below

PART TWO

Las Vegas Mystery: Little Girl Lost, Part 2
 

Clark County is reviewing all 55 child welfare cases missing from a report presented to a blue ribbon panel. The Channel 8 I-Team was first to bring you the story of the missing eight pages. The county said the re-review of the cases will be made public.

Read the Carrascal Foster Home Case Review

Because of the original report, the Department of Family Services is undergoing a multi- faceted overhaul. Sixty-four new employees will be hired through April to handle the overflowing caseload. This overhaul of the department may have come too late for several children, including a toddler who vanished one night out of her foster parent's home.

Everlyse Cabrera was only two years old when her foster parents claim she unlocked the front door and left the house in the middle of the night.

The county commissioned its own review of the foster home and the system supposed to manage it. And though it refuses to release the report, I-Team Reporter Colleen McCarty has obtained it.

McCarty: "Now that I've read this I can understand why officials at Clark County don't want anyone to see it."

Shortly after Everlyse disappeared, the county asked an independent consultant to review its case files involving the foster home. According to the report, he did. He also interviewed Child Protective Services staff and medical personnel.

The bottom line is little Everlyse shouldn't have been in that foster home in the first place.

"I might not be the best mom, but I'm not the worst mom either." Marlena Olivas makes no excuses for her mistakes. Her drug use lead to the removal of her children, 11-month-old Benny and 2-year-old Everlyse.

While Marlena struggled to get clean, her kids bounced from Child Haven to a temporary shelter home to foster care.

Initially we felt good because we were told all these things, to don't worry, that the kids are checked on once a month. They do the home inspections once a month, that they're highly recommended," Marlena explained.

The so-called "highly recommended" foster parents were Manuel and Vhee Carrascal. Licensed in June of 2005, their short stint in the child welfare system raised red flags early on.

The Channel 8 I-Team has obtained a review of the Carrascal foster home commissioned by the county after little Everlyse Cabrera disappeared.

Independent consultant Ed Cotton wrote the report.

Colleen McCarty: "This family had seven foster children and not a single caseworker ever went to that house until the day she disappeared?"

Ed Cotton: "Since that hasn't been released, I don't feel comfortable talking about it at all."

Neither does the county.

It begins with a timeline. The first blip is less than month after the Carrascal family receives their first child. They want the 3-year-old out immediately. And when the county doesn't move fast enough, the family dumps the boy at Child Haven.

Less than a month later in December of 2005, a second foster child in the Carrascal's care ends up in the emergency room -- allegedly burned by hot soup. The family waits eight hours before seeking medical attention.

Second and third degree burns required a night in the hospital and a Child Protective Services investigation is ordered.

It never happens.

The only follow-up was weeks later when a licensing investigator questions the foster mother and determines, on her word alone, the burn was an accident.

Over the next month three other children move in and out of the home. And just like the first boy in their care the Carrascals again dump two foster kids at Child Haven.

Concerned by a lack of commitment, the county puts a temporary hold on all placements in the Carrascal home in January of 2006. By April, it is lifted and Benjamin and Everlyse Cabrera move in to the house on Diamond Point Court.

A month later, the county renews the Carrascal family's foster license despite their failure to complete the required training. The licensing worker also notes -- in hindsight - -she knew nothing about the boy who'd been burned.

Everlyse Cabrera disappears two months later.

It is the first time ever a caseworker sets foot in the Carrascal home.

Marlena Olivas, Everlyse's mother, said, "Had they done their home inspections, highly recommended or not, if they'd done their home inspections like they were supposed to, maybe Everlyse would still be here."

Maybe.

And though Marlena Olivas admits she has made mistakes, she never lost her children. "I'm never going to give up thinking that we're going to find her. To me, that's the hardest thing to imagine, never getting her back. I can't imagine that," she said.

Benny Cabrera, Everlyse's little brother, was removed from the Cararscal home when she disappeared. The county revoked the Carrascal's foster license.

Also troubling is the Carrascal's refuse to cooperate with police and have not spoken with police since the day after Everlyse went missing.

If you have any information about her disappearance, please call 1-800-THE-LOST.

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