HAMILTON — The Butler County Children Services Board didn't have enough information to predict 3-year-old Marcus Fiesel would be killed in his foster home.

That was the conclusion William Morrison, the agency's ombudsman, reached about the handling of the developmentally disabled boy's case in his preliminary investigative report released Thursday morning.

"I found absolutely no information that Butler County Children Services had a way ... to have known this was about to happen," Morrison said based on his review of the case file.

There was no information in the case file that indicated problems were developing in Marcus' placement in the Clermont County home of Liz and David Carroll Jr., Morrison added in his report.

"We made the best possible decision with the information we had," said the Rev. Johnny Wade Sloan, chairman of the agency's board. "I think we were dealing with psychopaths."

The Carrolls are both facing multiple charges — including murder — for the early August death of the Middletown boy.

Several facts escaped Children Services in Marcus' case. For instance, it did not know that the Carrolls' girlfriend Amy Baker was living in the couple's home, or of a June 22 domestic violence incident there.

"Had we known that information, we very well may have been able to prevent this tragedy," Morrison said.

That information would have sparked a background check on Baker and raised other red flags, he said.

In accordance with former policy, Children Services passed on the responsibility to make monthly visits to Lifeway for Youth, the private agency that placed Marcus with the Carrolls on May 5, Morrison noted in his report. Marcus' death should initiate a full review of the use of contract foster homes and Children

Services "should be even more vigilant in monitoring these placements," Morrison wrote.

In Marcus' case, he was seen by professional staff 23 times in the 14 weeks he was with the Carrolls and was being connected to services for his disabilities, according to the report.

Morrison said he intends to find out what Lifeway knew and if any information was withheld from the county in interviews with the staff. He also intends interview county staff, witnesses in Clermont County and others associated with the case, he said.

"This is the first stage in what will probably be a very long investigation," Morrision said. "As we gain more information about this case, there may be additional problems that are uncovered."

Morrison will present a final report to the Butler County commissioners with any findings of fault, as well as recommendations for systematic changes.

Investigators from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services were at the agency's office Thursday, beginning their investigation of Marcus' case.

In addition, the county commissioners authorized county Auditor Kay Rogers to research the cost of having an outside firm conduct a performance audit of Children Services, as well as other county departments.

 

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or cbrooks@coxohio.com.