Social Workers Face Manslaughter Charges in Detroit Toddler's Death

DETROIT, MI — A state of Michigan social worker and her supervisor were charged with involuntary manslaughter and other felonies Monday after Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy accused them of allowing 3-year-old Aaron Minor, whose decomposed body was found in his mother’s Detroit apartment on May 25, to slip through the state’s safety net.

The two — Child Protective Services social worker Elaina L. Brown, 24, and her supervisor, Kelly M. Williams, 47, both Wayne County residents — also face a count each of second-degree child abuse, a 10-year felony, and willful neglect of duty by a public office, a five-year felony. Involuntary manslaughter is a 15-year felony.

Aaron’s death was ruled a homicide, and his mother Deanna S. Minor, 28, was charged with felony murder, second-degree murder, first- and second-degree child abuse and failure to report a dead body in early August. She had reportedly checked herself into a mental institution at the time her son’s body was discovered. Her competency hearing is Nov. 30 before 36th District Judge Shannon Walker.

If Brown and Williams had done their jobs correctly, Aaron would be alive, Worthy said.

“We charged this case after much thought and deliberation,” Worthy said in the statement. “We did not make this decision lightly. We must seek to hold these ‎defendants responsible for their alleged inaction. The ultimate result in this case was the death of a child that never should have happened.”

Worthy said Brown visited Minor twice on April 21 and April 22 on a referral from her mental health caseworker, who said that due to Minor’s deteriorating mental health she was becoming increasingly incapable to caring for Aaron.

Brown’s April 22 report to Williams noted the lack of adequate food in the home, Worthy said, but it wasn’t until May 9 that Brown sent Minor a letter asking her to contact CPS. When Minor was a no-show, that should have triggered both a call to police for a safety check and an emergency juvenile court petition to remove a child who was at imminent risk from the home.

Neither happened.

In the statement, Worthy said Brown and Williams were “grossly negligent and reckless” in their failure to:

• Provide a “safety plan” for Aaron,
• Follow through on reports by mental health workers,
• Ask for a police welfare check at Minor’s apartment,
• File a petition with juvenile court authorities, and
• Follow CPS policy and procedures.

During their arraignment Monday in 36th District Court, Brown and Williams were each given $25,000 personal bonds with the condition that they cannot deal with cases involving children in their work capacity. Their probable cause conference is Nov. 21, and their preliminary exam is set for Nov. 28.

Attorney Darryl Eason appeared for Brown and attorney Deana Kelley appeared for Williams.

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