Chicago Police

After Boy's Death, Pritzker Points to ‘Gross Mistakes'

DCFS interim director Debra Dyer-Webster says the agency "must do better"

An autopsy on a 2-year-old Chicago boy found bruises and old rib fractures, but records show state child welfare workers never reported injuries despite numerous visits.

Gov. JB Pritzker says "gross mistakes" were made. The Department of Children and Family Services was using a contractor to monitor children.

Ja'hir Gibbons died Monday. His mother has been charged with felony child endangerment for leaving him with a boyfriend, Dejon Waters, who is charged with first-degree murder.

An autopsy found Ja'hir died from blunt force trauma.

Cook County's public guardian says his office never got involved because DCFS didn't go to court to seek custody of the boy.

DCFS interim director Debra Dyer-Webster says the agency "must do better." She says a "comprehensive review" is planned.

Copyright The Associated Press
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