Wake County child welfare officials monitored the well-being of Christopher Scott Childers Jr. almost from the beginning of his short life, which police say ended with a violent shaking by his father.
Someone contacted Wake County Child Protective Services in late August to report that 3-week-old Christopher was suffering from neglect at the hands of his parents, Christopher Childers Sr. and Rachel Collins, according to Warren Ludwig, the county's Child Welfare Administrator.
Ludwig summarized the county's involvement with the family in a three-page report released today. Christopher Childers Sr., 28, was charged with first-degree murder after Christopher died on Feb. 5.
The initial report to Child Protective Services indicated that the family was living in a rooming house that was "crowded, filthy, and had bed bugs and roaches," and that Collins was not feeding her son properly or keeping him and his clothes clean. Ludwig does not disclose who made the report.
Three days later, on Aug. 29, a social worker met with the family at the rooming house on East Lenoir Street and went over the allegations. The parents described how they fed and cared for the baby, and the social worker reported that they "were appropriately attentive" to their son and that he "appeared to be well," according to Ludwig's report.
After a follow-up visit, the social worker and her supervisor closed the case, referring the family to two county programs that provide support for families. Representatives of Care Coordination for Children and Family Support Services each visited the family in the fall and had arranged for a joint meeting with the family on Jan. 18.
According to Ludwig, Collins cancelled the meeting, saying that both Christopher and his father were ill.
On Jan. 21, just before 5:45 a.m., Collins called 911 to report that Christopher was unresponsive. He was taken to WakeMed, where he remained until he died.
