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State agency starts probe of girl's death

Rios/San Angelo Standard-Times5/12/09

A state agency investigation is under way into the suicide of a San Angelo State School resident Sunday afternoon. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services typically has 14 days to file a report on a priority one report, spokesman Crimmins said, which is how the department ranks its most important cases. Investigators may apply for 14-day extensions to have time for more interviews, or if the medical examiner's office does not return manner of death or toxicology reports quickly. Extensions must be approved internally through a supervisor, Crimmins said.

Cases are assigned priority on a five-point scale. Priority one allegations may include malnutrition, sexual abuse when there is danger of repeated abuse, or suicide attempts or threats. Staff members found the 15-year-old girl on Sunday, and she was taken to Medical Center , where it was determined she had committed suicide, said Lt. Bill Fiveash, spokesman for the Tom Green County Sheriff's office.

The San Angelo State School in Carlsbad is a state-funded residential facility that cares for people who are mentally challenged or mentally ill. In fiscal year 2007, San Angelo State School had 298 residents and 736 employees. The DFPS only investigates and does not have any regulatory power. The agency can make recommendations to the state school and local law enforcement, which in this case appears to be the sheriff's office, Crimmins said. Investigators are looking at the girl's records, what kind of supervision she required and whether any medical issues might be associated with her death, Crimmins said.

By law, state school investigations are confidential.

"Once the report is completed, it's confidential as well," he said. "One copy goes to the state school superintendent, the state school headquarters and a copy will go to law enforcement. The investigation itself is not public, and will not be made public."

If, for example, only one staff member was on duty and was taking a break at the time of death, Crimmins said, the department can recommend minimum staffing of two people so that if one is called away, a backup remains on the floor.

According to DFPS, San Angelo State School had 14 confirmed cases of neglect or physical abuse from 2004 to 2009, none of which resulted in death. Abilene State School listed 18 confirmed cases from that period, and Corpus Christi State School had 17.

In the 2008 fiscal year, San Angelo State School had 844 completed investigations of complaints at all priority levels, Crimmins said. Within the past month, he said, there have been 69 completed investigations.

Case priorities

This is the hierarchy of case importance followed by Texas Family and Protective Services, starting with the most urgent:

Priority I: Allegations that the victim is in a state of serious harm or is in danger of death from abuse or neglect.

Priority II: Allegations that the victim is abused, neglected, or exploited and, as a result, is at risk of serious harm.

Priority III: All other allegations that the victim is in a state of abuse or neglect.

Priority IV: Allegations of exploitation when there is no danger of imminent impoverishment or deprivation of basic needs.

Source: Texas Administrative Code

M. Guppy

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