The Silence That Failed Her: Kei’Mani Latigue

Summary

Crime Salad Podcast Episode Summary
Episode Title: The Silence That Failed Her: Kei’Mani Latigue
Release Date: April 12, 2025
Host: Ashley (Ricky is absent for this episode)
Host Contact: [e-mail]

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Introduction

In this deeply poignant episode of Crime Salad, host Ashley delves into the tragic story of Kei’Mani Latigue, a 13-year-old girl whose untimely death has left a community shattered and raised serious questions about child protective services and familial responsibilities.

Background: Kimani’s Life and Disappearance

Kimani Latigue was described by her grandmother and legal guardian, Dorothy Latique, as a "phenomenal" and "responsible" young girl with an old soul, who possessed a love for basketball, video games, and was highly intelligent (01:25). On Tuesday morning, Dorothy returned home from work to discover that Kimani was missing. The house was in disarray, the stove was left on, and Kimani’s keys and glasses were abandoned—uncharacteristic signs for someone as responsible as Kimani (01:55).

The Search and Discovery

Despite Kimani’s history of always calling before going anywhere, her absence was immediately alarming. With planned events like an award ceremony and a birthday party on the horizon, her disappearance cast a shadow over what should have been joyful occasions. Search efforts intensified as community members and family rallied together but, tragically, a week later, on March 24, 2025, Kimani’s body was discovered in a burnt-down, abandoned house in Toledo, Ohio (07:17).

Investigation and Arrest

The Lucas County Coroner’s office ruled Kimani’s death a homicide caused by multiple incised wounds to the neck (09:30). Suspicion quickly fell on Darnell Jones, identified as Kimani’s father, who was arrested on March 25, 2025. During the arrest, Darnell pulled a gun on officers, leading to his being shot and apprehended by the Columbus SWAT team. Although he survived the incident, charges of murder, felonious assault, and abduction remain pending (12:20).

Family Conflicts and Paternity Questions

The revelation that Darnell Jones was Kimani’s father ignited familial tensions. Dorothy Latique claimed that Darnell was not Kimani’s biological father, having accepted him as a father figure in hopes of positive change. This assertion was contradicted by conflicting accounts from Kimani’s mother, Tierra Kaston, and other family members, leading to confusion and distrust within the family (14:13).

Child Protective Services Involvement and Criticisms

A major focal point of the episode is the role of Lucas County Children's Services (LCCS). Despite multiple reports from Kimani’s teacher, Kayleen Harabidian, and other adults expressing concerns about Kimani’s well-being, LCCS only recorded three reports related to Dorothy’s disciplinary methods—none implicating Darnell Jones. Randall Muth, Executive Director of LCCS, defended the agency’s actions, stating that they responded appropriately by referring Kimani to supportive services and keeping her under Dorothy’s care (23:36). However, critics argue that systemic failures within CPS may have contributed to Kimani’s vulnerability, questioning whether earlier or more intensive intervention could have prevented the tragedy.

Community Response and Calls for Change

Kimani’s death has sparked outrage and demands for accountability from the community. Protests outside the Lucas County Children’s Services building on March 28, 2025, highlighted the community’s frustration with perceived inaction and inefficacy of child protective services. Activists like Amanda Schaeffer voiced the collective grief and anger, urging for systemic reforms to better protect vulnerable children (30:55).

Role of Educators and Reporting Mechanisms

Kimani’s teacher, Kayleen Harabidian, played a crucial role by reporting suspicions of abuse based on Kimani’s disclosures and visible injuries. Despite multiple reports, LCCS failed to identify any direct threats from Darnell Jones, who was not on their radar as a potential abuser (23:31). This gap in the reporting and protective mechanisms underscores the urgent need for improved training and protocols within child protective agencies.

Statistical Context and Broader Implications

The episode contextualizes Kimani’s case within the broader landscape of child abuse in the United States, citing alarming statistics from 2022: approximately 1,990 children died from abuse and neglect, with many cases likely underreported. Comparatively, industrialized countries like Spain and Greece have significantly lower rates of child maltreatment deaths, highlighting potential areas for policy improvement and intervention (22:15).

Resources and Preventative Measures

Ashley emphasizes the importance of community vigilance and proper reporting mechanisms. She provides listeners with resources such as the Child Help Hotline [phone]) and encourages proactive steps like gathering concrete evidence and following up with authorities to ensure that child abuse reports are thoroughly investigated. Additionally, organizations like Justice for Children offer support and advocacy for affected families (25:18).

Conclusion: Ongoing Investigation and Community Healing

As investigations continue and the community mourns Kimani’s loss, the episode serves as a call to action for better protection systems and greater awareness of the signs of child abuse. The collective effort to honor Kimani’s memory through support initiatives and public discourse underscores the enduring impact of her tragic story.

Notable Quotes

• Dorothy Latique (Grandmother):
  "You didn't have to do this to a child. There was nothing that Kimani would have done to make you hurt her." (01:17)

• Darnell Jones (Alleged Father):
  "This is a 14 year old that was murdered, raped, had her hands cut off and her throat almost cut off. This is an absolute animal that came into our town." (11:10)

• Tierra Kaston (Mother):
  "I have never had a seizure before in my life, and I've had three within the past couple of days. If my baby doesn't make it home, I will never be okay again." (07:24)

• Columbus Lieutenant Brian Steele:
  "This case is one of the most horrific cases I ever heard." (10:58)

• Lucas County Children’s Services Director Randall Muth:
  "Lucas County Children's Services does not endorse or recommend the use of any corporal punishment. However, Ohio law does state that it is a decision that is reserved to the parents." (27:23)

Final Thoughts

Kimani Latigue’s heartbreaking story serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by children and the critical role of community and governmental agencies in safeguarding their well-being. Crime Salad urges listeners to remain vigilant, advocate for systemic changes, and support one another in the quest for justice and prevention of future tragedies.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections as per the episode’s guidelines.

Transcript

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[Dorothy Latique]

Dorothy Latique she's also Kimani's legal guardian. She said she came home from work.

[Ashley]

Tuesday morning, found Kimani was missing.

[Ricky]

Kimani's family came out of town to search for her. Now they say they're planning a funeral instead.

[Tierra Kaston]

You didn't have to do this to a child. There was nothing that Kimani would have done to make you hurt her.

[Darnell Jones]

Kimani was. She was phenomenal. Kimani was a helper. Like she was older than what she appeared to be like. You know how they say somebody has an old soul? She was that. She loved older music. She loved playing video games. She loved the friends and family that she was allowed to be around. She played basketball for Spring Elementary. She was highly intelligent.

[Ricky]

The unlocked door was the first clue.

[Ashley]

That something wasn't quite right. When sharing her side of the mystery that unfolded on March 17, 2025, Dorothy Lateague recalls the suspicion stacking up as she returned home from work that Monday morning. Despite being her 13 year old granddaughter's legal guardian, things like unlocked doors weren't typical for the household. Dorothy had described her granddaughter, Kimani Lateague as being a phenomenal, responsible, highly intelligent old soul who was happy to help those around her. Trusted with her own house key, Kimani wasn't the type to forget to lock the door on her way out. As Dorothy walked into her house, which was in a state of complete disarray, the distinct smell of gas further fueled her confusion. The stove had been left on. Kimani's keys and glasses had been left behind. Dorothy couldn't ignore the increasingly concerning warning signs. Kimani wasn't able to see without those glasses. She just wouldn't simply forget to wear them. Dorothy called Spring Elementary School, where Kimani was supposed to be attending class, to check in on her granddaughter, and that's when Dorothy learned that Kimani hadn't made it to school that day. Kimani was never the type of kid who would run away. Quite the opposite, actually. Dorothy could always count on her to call and ask for permission before going anywhere, but this time, calls to Kimani's phone went straight to voicemail. Considering the upcoming award ceremony and basketball themed birthday party planned that would reunite her with all of her cousins, Kimani had a lot to look forward to. But talk of fun parties and ceremonies were soon pushed to the side as a much grimmer reality set in. Instead of coming together to celebrate Kimani's bright future, her loved ones began the search to find the missing teenager. Hey Crime Salad listeners. This is Crime Salad and my name's Ashley. And if you're new here, welcome. Be sure to subscribe in this episode, it will be just me this week, as Ricky is away for work, I will be sharing what we've learned about Kimani Lateague's story, tackling questions that only get increasingly complicated as more information and interviews with members of Kimani's family are released. We'll explore the possibility that earlier intervention could have saved the beloved teenager from a horrible tragedy that devastated the whole community as we ask the ever important question, Is there anything more concerned citizens can do to help prevent vulnerable children from from falling victim to tragically similar fates? Is reporting abuse and trusting the authorities to take care of it enough? The topic of abuse, especially when it comes to children, is never an easy one to get into. But with an estimated 1,990 children having died from abuse and neglect in the United States in 2022 alone, we feel that it's an extremely important issue to cover. With this morbid number on the rise in recent years, we must do what we can do to continue to demand real changes. That being said, we must warn you that this episode does include discussions of child abuse, dismemberment, sexual assault, and death, all relating to children. We will provide a second warning before we share the most gruesome details of this case. If any of these topics are sensitive for you, you may want to skip this episode entirely and tune in next week instead. For now, let's turn our attention back to Kimani's story.

[Ricky]

Though investigators have yet to release all.

[Ashley]

The details about Kimani's case to the public through interviews, Kimani's grandmother has given us some Insight into Kimani's upbringing, Dorothy has shared that Kimani was placed in the care of her mother's godmother, Dorothy's best friend, when she was only nine months old. Dorothy claims that Kimani's mother, Tierra Kaston, has never really had custody of her daughter. She explained that Kimani's living situation changed about five and a half years ago when she went to go live with her grandmother.

[Ricky]

About a year before the Lateague family's.

[Ashley]

Lives were completely upended by Kimani's disappearance, Dorothy was granted legal guardianship of her granddaughter, Kimani Lateague. Despite life's challenges, Kimani remained a bright light for those around her. When describing her granddaughter, Dorothy recalled Kimani's soft spot for children, her passion for basketball, impressive intelligence, and her love for her family. Kimani remained under her grandmother's care right up until that cursed day in March when a monster hiding in plain sight was would reveal its true sadistic nature. By March 18th of 2025, Kimani was reported missing. Search efforts began right away as strangers.

[Ricky]

And loved ones alike came together to.

[Ashley]

Look for the missing teenager. Kimani's family didn't hesitate to spread the.

[Ricky]

Word, sharing their concerns with the public.

[Ashley]

As the search continued. Tierra Kasten was among those who spoke with reporters early on about the search for her missing daughter, Tina, and how it had affected her, saying, quote, I have never had a seizure before in my life, and I've had three within the past couple of days. If my baby doesn't make it home, I will never be okay again. I've legitimately been on social media since the minute I found out, spreading awareness, sending out flyers, contact information, anything to get my baby home. I have not slept in three days. I have not eaten in three days. During another interview, Tara told a reporter that the last time she saw Kimani was on March 15, 2025, stating, quote, I seen her on the 15th. Her dad brought her down to my house. Apparently my mother gave him permission, and honestly, it was just me loving on my kid, unquote. Darnell Jones, who came forward as Kimani's father, also spoke to a reporter about Kimani's disappearance. As the search continued, Darnell said that Kimani had reached out to him late on the night of March 16th because she thought someone was trying to break into the house. He claimed that he went over to the house with his cousin and stayed there for over an hour, trying to ease Kimani's fears of being home alone. And he said that they left around 12:30 ish. This made Darnell the last person to see Kimani before she disappeared. Something that wouldn't escape the investigators notice. Unfortunately, after almost a week of community wide efforts to find Kimani, on March 24, 2025, the search came to an end at a deserted safety hazard, mostly burnt down house that sat waiting for demolition on Miami street in Toledo, Ohio. Hidden among the rubble, investigators found a dead body. It wasn't long after news broke out about the discovery of human remains that.

[Ricky]

The Lateague family's worst fears became a heartbreaking reality.

[Ashley]

The body was identified to be that of 13 year old Kimani Lateague. There in that abandoned shell of a home in Toledo, Ohio. Kimani Lateague was pronounced dead on March 24, 2025 at 12:19pm Sadly, Kimani will remain forever 13, her life tragically cut short in the most awful way. But this isn't the end of her story. The discovery of Kimani's body set off a powerful call for justice, launching a hunt for answers that would expose dark secrets and stir up questions about Kimani's family. On March 25, 2025, the Lucas County Coroner's office performed an autopsy on the young girl's body. That same day, the coroner released a report ruling Kimani's death a homicide caused by multiple incised wounds of the neck. And as I mentioned at the beginning of this episode, here's your warning because.

[Ricky]

We'Re about to briefly cover the more.

[Ashley]

Horrific details of the brutal reality of this case. So if you think this description will be too much for you, tune back in in a few seconds. Skip forward to the aftermath of the tragic discovery.

[Ricky]

Brian Steele, a lieutenant with the Columbus.

[Ashley]

Police Department, spoke to a reporter about the case, sharing a detailed overview of Kimani's injuries. Steel stated, quote, this case is one of the most horrific cases I ever heard.

[Dorothy Latique]

This case is one of the most horrific cases I ever heard. This is a 14 year old that was murder, murdered, raped, had her hands cut off and her throat almost cut off. This is an absolute animal that came into our town. I understand some of your editors won't let you print the word animal or view the word animal. If people are more offended to how I'm describing him, how he treated that girl, that's on them, not on me. Again, I'm glad our officers are okay. Our SWAT are the best of the best. We ascend a message. You murder somebody, do not come to this town. I'll answer any question.

[Ashley]

So at this point, I imagine an intense sense of fear lurked in the shadows of the community as they mourned Kimani's tragic death, while knowing that the killer responsible could very well be living among them, concealed by a carefully constructed mask. But the citizens of Toledo wouldn't have to worry about Kimani's killer posing a threat to the rest of society for long. The investigators in charge of tracking down her killer had already narrowed down their focus on their prime suspect. Even though Kimani had only been missing for about a week at that point, there didn't seem to be any question of who was responsible for her murder.

[Ricky]

The day that the autopsy results were.

[Ashley]

Released, 33 year old Darnell Jones was charged with murder, felonious assault and abduction in connection with the murder of Kimani Lateague. A SWAT team in Columbus, Ohio tracked Darnell down on March 25, quickly closing in on their suspect. But apparently Darnell wasn't ready to give up quite yet. According to Brian Steele, Darnell pulled a gun on an officer as the SWAT team was closing in on him. Thankfully, the officer was quicker. Darnell was shot. While everyone on the SWAT team made it out unharmed, the Columbus SWAT team successfully apprehended Darnell on March 25, 2025. Darnell was brought to the hospital to be treated for the gunshot wound and and stabilized. Having survived the arrest, Darnell will be forced to face the consequences of his dark, repulsive, utterly evil actions. Allegedly since the case is so recent, Darnell hasn't been convicted of any charges related to Kimani's death. Yet investigators still haven't shared many details about the evidence that led to Darnell's arrest. However, we do know that he is believed to be the last person to have seen Kimani and and has allegedly given inconsistent statements regarding the case. Phone and surveillance video footage also gave weight to the charges. We assume there will be much more to come of this case in the weeks and months that follow the haunting discovery of Kimani's remains. What poor Kimani went through is absolutely heartbreaking. A bright young girl who will forever be known for her kindness deserves nothing but love and peace. As information is slowly shared with the.

[Ricky]

Public through carefully controlled press releases, confusion.

[Ashley]

And lingering questions about how this could have happened remain. Officials have stated that more details will be released when it no longer risks jeopardizing the investigation or future court proceedings. In the meantime, several members of Kimani's family have continued to share their their perspective on the case and Kimani's life leading up to her death, while filling in some of the gaps with new information. In some ways, those interviews have also.

[Ricky]

Added to the confusion.

[Ashley]

I imagine that the truth lies somewhere in the tangle, but it's too early to know with complete certainty exactly who to trust. Yet public opinion seems to be rather mixed, with some picking sides and others writing off the whole family altogether as a toxic mess. For now, we'll go over a few of the major points of contention within the fractured family dynamic, hopefully starting with a discussion that will develop as more information is released and new voices join the conversation. As we mentioned earlier, Kimani's mother has shared her concerns, emotional turmoil and love for Kimani ever since her daughter went missing. However, during an interview with WTOL 11.

[Ricky]

News, Kimani's aunt and Tira's sister claimed that Tira didn't have anything to do with Kimani during the last few years of her life. She even went so far as to question why Tira had bothered to come back around now, when she was never there for her daughter before.

[Tierra Kaston]

For her mother to come down and have all this to say and all that. Tiara, where was you for the past four years? We haven't seen you since Ke Mani's TikTok party. You haven't called her, you haven't sent her anything, you haven't said, oh baby, I'mma come get you for a weekend. We haven't seen you until this happened. Why we got to see you when it's a tragic moment. So Tierra, where do you stand? She'll call my mom, she'll go through me and say, have you talked to Mommy? And I'm like, no, about what? And she'll say, oh well, she got custody of Keimani and she trying to get child support from me. So it wasn't that Teairra was concerned about Kymani, it was more of the why she want child support from me.

[Darnell Jones]

If my baby is in that house and my baby is deceased, I cannot wait to see is done.

[Ricky]

This clash between Teairra and her sister Ann Dorothy seems to have taken on a life of its own. Fueled by rumors, cruel comments, speculations and opposing perspectives, it resulted in a recent court case over who would be granted the rights to Kimani's funeral planning and estate. Dorothy was ultimately granted permission to follow through with her plans of organizing the two funerals, one that will be open to the public and a separate private ceremony. And as I listened to the footage of the hearing, one aspect in particular stood out to me. During the proceedings, Dorothy stated that Tierra hadn't visited since Kimani's 11th birthday in 2022 and Tiara seemed to confirm this, claiming that the last time she was permitted to see Kimani was on her 11th birthday. Regardless of the reasons for Tira's absence from her daughter's life, this contradicts Tira's earlier claims that Dorothy allowed Darnell to bring Kimani to Visit her on March 16 to 2025. And that's by far not the only interview that has stirred up questions either. So after countless headlines announced the revolting revelation that Kimani's father was accused of murdering her, Dorothy told a reporter that Darnell Jones isn't actually Kimani's biological father. She explained that she accepted him as a father figure for Kimani because she thought he had changed, left his life of crime behind him to become a better man. Now she admits to feeling betrayed after hearing what Darnell has been accused of.

[Darnell Jones]

This man has been to my house several times. He usually takes her for weekends to his house to visit with him and his other children. And I feel deceived like you played for so long in my face like you was her dad, like you really had her best interests at heart. But where is she?

[Ricky]

At this point, it's unclear who's telling the truth. In a press conference held on Tuesday, April 8, the executive director of Lucas County Children's Services, Randall Muth, stated that LCCS does not have any records identifying Kimani's biological father. He explained that genetic testing ruled out someone who was alleged to be Kimani's father back in 2011, and paternity for Kimani has never been established. Regardless of the inconsistencies, the truth remains that Kimani's loved ones were devastated by her loss. The whole community has come together to share their heartbreak, anger and demands for justice. When asked if there's anything the community can do to help prevent tragedies like this in the future, Toledo police chief replied, quote, no matter how many hours we spend in the neighborhood, there's things that we will never hear or never see that other community members or family members are seeing. If you ever have any doubt that some child is being abused or something is just not right, then by all means notify us or notify CSB and get the authorities involved early before it.

[Ashley]

Gets to this point.

[Ricky]

Because unfortunately with this case, especially once we were involved, it was already too late for us.

[Ashley]

Unquote.

[Ricky]

This is a bold statement which warrants a closer look. Could Kimani lateg have been saved if those around her had simply reached out to authorities and reported their suspicions of an unsafe home environment? Given this comment, this can't really be another case where multiple reports of suspected abuse were ignored, right? In every great true crime story, there's.

[Ashley]

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[Ricky]

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[Ricky]

From the beginning, people have questioned the role Child Protective Services may have played in Kimani's death, just like we've seen in far too many other child abuse cases we've covered. Kayleen Harabidian, Kimani's sixth grade teacher, is one of the many voices calling out CPS as she grieves the loss of her former student, describing Kimani as a sweet girl. In an interview with 13 Action News, Kayleen recalls, she greeted me every single morning with a hug that was all she ever truly wanted was affection. Now, sadly, back in 2024 when Kayleen was still Kimani's teacher, the there were signs that Kimani's home life wasn't quite as cheerful as the upbeat teenager's personality might suggest. Kayleen recalls that Kimani told her about some of the disturbing things that were happening in her home.

[Ashley]

Admissions that concerned Kayleen, leaving no room for doubt.

[Ricky]

Visible injuries on Kimani's body were physical proof that backed up Kimani's story. After hearing about Kimani's home life, Kayleen did the right thing. What we are all told to do.

[Ashley]

When we see those warning signs.

[Ricky]

She reached out to Children's services to report her suspicions. Kayleen went on to say that she wasn't the only one who reached out to authorities about their worries over Kimani's well being, alleging, quote, kimani expressed some things to us in the school, not only to myself, but to other adults in the building, her peers, her school bus driver, who all made phone calls to Child Protective Services. Lucas County Children's Services was notified on several different occasions that she may be at risk of child abuse in the home, and it just fell on deaf ears. Our calls were not heard. Her voice was not heard, unquote. But this case is cloaked with complicated layers. Lucas County Children's Services, or LCCS, has admitted to three reports accusing Dorothy of of excessive disciplining regarding Kimani. One on December 8, 2023, and two on March 21, 2024. However, none of these reports included allegations against Darnell Jones. In fact, it seems that Darnell wasn't on LCCS's radar at all. According to LCCS, not only was Darnell never named as Kimani's abuser, but he was never identified as an adult who was involved in Kimani's life in any.

[Ashley]

Capacity, let alone as her father.

[Ricky]

Even during LCCS's most recent conversations with Kimani and Dorothy, Darnell was never mentioned. Oblivious to Darnell's presence in Kimani's life and the risks, his criminal record may have warned them off. Officials never questioned him. However, they did speak with Dorothy after receiving the reports. And during the press conference on Tuesday, Randall Muth insisted that LCCS responded to the allegations with thorough investigations that included speaking directly with the people who made the reports, inspecting the home, private conversations with Kimani, and reaching out to those who knew the family, among other measures, to get a comprehensive idea of what was going on. They also discussed appropriate discipline with Dorothy and referred the family to supportive services. And Dorothy shared her perspective on these investigations in an interview with WTOL 11, claiming that she learned from these visits.

[Ashley]

And now she knew what was legal and what wasn't.

[Ricky]

Dorothy talked about using corporal punishment against Kimani, insisting in her own words that she was not abused.

[Darnell Jones]

Okay, abuse in whose eyes? Because she was not abused. Yes, she was chastised whenever she was wrong or did things wrong. Other than that she was not abused. She was not just whooped for no reason or just because I felt like it. I've went through this twice because the school system had contacted csp, was CSB on her. Her behalf when she went to Bennett Academy and they came in, they did a case study and closed it there. They've stated there's a way to chastise children without physically harming them, and you need to whoop them on their behind, nowhere else. So, okay. With that in mind, I knew that. So she didn't have, like, bruises all over.

[Ricky]

When questioned about this during the press conference, Muth said, quote, lucas County Children's Services does not endorse or recommend the use of any corporal punishment. However, Ohio law does state that it is a decision that is reserved to the parents. And if parents decide in using their exclusive judgment to use corporal punishment, we do provide guidance on how to do that, unquote. So later, discussing the general guidelines for deciding if a child should be removed from their home following an investigation, Muth explained that if they believe a child is in imminent risk of physical harm, LCCs will respond in one of two ways. If they believe that the family can and will work with them to ensure the safety of the child, then lccs will go to court. Ultimately, they determined that it was best for Kimani to remain under her grandmother's care and referred to the family to supportive services. Despite claims that many people reported suspicions of abuse on behalf of Kimani, Muth insisted that the three reports mentioned are the only ones LCCS has on record, confirming that they did receive a report from Kayleen Harabidian, and he encouraged anyone who believes they contacted LCCS about their concerns for Kimani to call the center's hotline so that they can investigate the matter further. The fact that LCCS was involved at all has led many people to question if Kimani might still be alive if they had done more to protect her. Criticizing for not removing Kimani from her grandmother's home. On one hand, the reports weren't specifically about Darnell, and some people believe that Dorothy genuinely loves granddaughter and she did her best to provide her with a good life and has been unfairly targeted. Still others argue that though Dorothy may not have murdered Kimani, that doesn't mean that she didn't abuse her granddaughter. She has admitted to using corporal punishment. After all, how far does Dorothy's punishments go? Added to that is the fact that Dorothy allowed Darnell to be a part of Kimani's life despite being aware of his criminal record, which includes charges of arson, domestic violence and assault, among many other serious offenses. Is it possible that Kimani might have lived long enough to celebrate her 14th birthday if she had been removed from her grandmother's care? Regardless, it seems that people are getting increasingly frustrated with CPS's excuses. After all, Kimani's case is far from the only one that has exposed exposed failures of a system that was supposed to protect children who are powerless to save themselves. Following Kimani's death, Toledo City Council members discussed the very issue with the councilman George Saranto, questioning the actions agencies take after receiving reports of abuse. He explained, quote, I guess the question for me is this is not the first time this has happened. A teacher reports physical abuse of a young person and what happens? Nothing happens. Teachers are very, very good sources of information. I like to know what happened because now we have a real tragedy. She's gone.

[Ashley]

Unquote.

[Ricky]

Despite the county's recent efforts to put together a task force to improve LCCs, with Commissioner Pete Gerken sharing his goal of rebuilding trust between the community and children's services, the public is demanding more from services that have continued to fail at fulfilling their dut to protect victims of abuse. On March 28, 2025, the day that Kimani should have been celebrating her 14th birthday, protesters marched outside of the Lucas County Children's Services building demanding accountability, reform, and changes that prevent these types of tragedies from happening time and time again. Amanda Schaeffer, one of the many protesters who refused to be silenced by empty promises, shared a message I suspect many of us can relate, stating, I'm tired of the violence. I'm tired of losing kids. There have been far too many cases of children left to suffer at the hands of their abuser, even after suspicions of abuse have been reported to Child Protective Services. Maybe some of you are even facing the struggle in your own life, concerned about a child you know, yet left feeling hopeless and helpless as the authorities refuse to take meaningful steps to protect victims of abuse. We are always told, if you see something, say something. But it can be disheartening to hear all of the times people speak up to save a child only to be ignored. Of course, that doesn't mean that we should just give up on helping children escape abusive situations. If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected you should file a report with the proper authorities. Child Help Hotline is a great place to start. By calling or texting 800-422-4453 or using the Live Chat feature on the Child Help Hotline website, you will be connected to a counselor who can help guide you in the right direction. And we also can't ignore the sad fact that sometimes reporting suspicions of abuse to authorities just isn't enough. Child Protective service agencies in the United states received over 4 million reports of child maltreatment during 2022 cases that involved 7.5 million children. However, only around 3 million of those children received prevention and post response services. That same year, 1,990 children reportedly died from abuse and neglect in the United States, with an estimated 50 to 60% of maltreatment facilities not recorded on death certificates. That number could sadly be even higher. A report published by UNICEF in 2003 highlights the need and possibility of making the world safer for children by creating a scale that ranked rates of child maltreatment deaths in industrialized countries. Spain, Greece, Italy, and Ireland were recognized for the lowest rates of maltreatment deaths at 0.1 to 0.2 deaths per 100,000 children. At the other end of the scale, the United States and Mexico were found to have the highest rates, 2.2 deaths per 100,000 children. Demanding changes Advocating for better protection for children and spreading awareness are all important steps towards preventing needless deaths. If you find yourself in the position of recognizing that a child may be being abused, try to gather concrete evidence to support your claim if possible. After filing a report, check in with authorities that you reached out to ask additional information that might be helpful. Investigations into cases of child abuse do take time, but if it becomes clear that your concerns are being ignored by staff at your local agency, you can always take things a step further by asking whether the agency has an appeal process or by reaching out to a children's ombudsman. They advocate for the child's best interest and work to ensure their rights are respected. And if your appeal is out of the question and you are unable to get the help you need from a children's ombudsman, then it might be time to contact your state's designated state liaison officer for child abuse and neglect. Tasked with ensuring that agencies abide by state laws and policies, state liaison officers can serve as a powerful line of defense for vulnerable children after all other options have failed them. If you do need to escalate things to this level, you can find the contact information for your state's state liaison Liaison Officer at the Child Welfare Information Gateway website, along with a whole database of important information regarding child welfare and state specific numbers to call to report child abuse and neglect. Justice for Children, a national child advocacy organization founded by Randy Burton, is another great resource that works with adults to protect abused and neglected children who have been failed by a fatally flawed system. Offering support and guidance through complicated legal processes, connecting those in need with referrals and legal resources, and pairing research with education to inform concerned citizens are just a few of the ways that justice for Children steps in to address the often dangerously inadequate services provided by cps. Randy, a former chief prosecutor, shares his perspective on the ways the legal system fails vulnerable children on the justice for Children website, stating, quote, these preventable child deaths are not merely the result of incompetency or excessive caseloads, but rather the direct and predictable consequences of a social service delivery system that places a higher priority on preservation of the family unit and rehabilitation of the offender than on protection of the child. Only in instances of crimes against children does our law enforcement establishment allow cps, a social service agency lacking law enforcement training, experience and prioritizes to receive the initial report of abuse to perform the initial civil investigation of the crime and dictate the progress of the criminal case. Only in cases child abuse is a victim forced by the state to live in the same home with his or her abuser. Unfortunately, it's too late to save young Kimani, but that doesn't mean she has been forgotten. Investigators have turned their focus towards getting justice for the beloved teenager. Meanwhile, the community has come together to honor Kimani lateague in many different ways, ensuring that she will forever be remembered. Several GoFundMe pages have been set up under Kimani's name, claiming to be raising funds for the family, her burial memorials and legal funding, among other things. Things Kimani's aunt has spoken up against these GoFundMe fundraisers, explaining that the funeral home has already offered to cover all of Kimani's burial expenses so she doesn't see what else they would need the money for. She also explained what the family needs most right now is moral support, insisting that the immediate family will take care of laying Kimani to rest and all that comes with it. They'd prefer for people to stop using Kimani's name in unapproved GoFundMe fundraisers, let the family bury Kimani in peace and continue to offer support through this incredibly difficult time. On March 28, in honor of Kimani's birthday, the Toledo Buffalo soldiers stepped up to offer their support, along with free lunch and cake to Kimani's classmates at Spring Elementary. Toledo Buffalo soldier Fred Lafever shared his perspective on the issues children currently face, explaining, quote, these kids are dealing with stuff. Nightly shootings, gunshots, parents arguing, custody battles.

[Ashley]

Things that we never had to deal with or talk about.

[Ricky]

So it's very stressful for them. This is just a little bit of a break, though. The soldiers have visited the school before to teach lessons on gun safety and anti bullying. On the day that Kimani should have been celebrating her 14th birthday, they simply offered support and a steady shoulder to cry on as the children mourned. With Kimani Lateague's death being so recent, there are sure to be updates on the horizon. We'll keep an eye out for any new information as law enforcement pursues justice for Kimani and all those who loved.

[Ashley]

Her, now forced to mourn the bright.

[Ricky]

Light that went dark far too soon.

[Ashley]

For now, we'd love to hear your.

[Ricky]

Opinion on the case and the topics we've covered today. Should CPS have removed Kimani from her grandmother's care? Would that have been enough to save her? And what do you think could be done to improve the system set in place to protect vulnerable children? How can we save victims of abuse before it's too late? Please share today's episode on social media and leave a comment to continue this important discussion. As always, we are so grateful for our crime Salad, Patreon and Apple subscribers. Your support means the world to us and it helps us play our part in spreading awareness about these important topics. And thank you so much for listening to this week's episode. We are so honored to be given the chance to share this heartbreaking story and other stories with an audience who cares so much about the victims just.

[Ashley]

As much as we do.

[Ricky]

As we do our best to lend our voice to those who have been unfairly silenced, please stay safe, take care of yourselves, and we'll catch you next week for another deep dive into the stories that need to be told.

[Tierra Kaston]

Sam.