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Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged Elaina L. Brown, 24 (DOB: 5/11/1992) and Kelly M. Williams, 47, (DOB: 2/26/1969), both of Wayne County, in connection with the death of three-year-old Aaron Minor. On May 25, 2016 at approximately 2:30 p.m., Detroit police officers responded to an apartment in the 4400 block of Trumbull in Detroit where they discovered a bed with the decomposed remains of Aaron Minor. The medical examiner determined that the child’s manner of death was a homicide.

On August 4, 2016, the child’s mother, Deanna S. Minor, 28 (DOB: 2/7/1988), of Detroit, was arrested and charged with Felony Murder, Second Degree Murder, Child Abuse First and Second Degree, and Failure to Report a Dead Body. On August 11, 2016, Minor was referred for a competency evaluation and a competency hearing is scheduled for November 30, 2016 before 36th District Court Judge Shannon Walker.

On April 21, 2016, Child Protective Services (CPS) worker Elaina Brown received a referral from the mother’s mental health worker. As a result, on April 21 and 22, 2016, she visited the mother and child and determined there was inadequate food in the house. It is alleged that Brown never saw the mother and child again after April 22, 2016. On April 22, 2016, Ms. Brown did speak to her supervisor, Ms. Williams. On May 9, 2016, Ms. Brown sent a letter asking Ms. Minor to contact CPS; it is alleged Ms. Minor failed to do so.

The CPS policy and procedure requires that when a family cannot be located, fail to cooperate, and there are allegations of imminent risk, the CPS worker must: contact the police for a safety check, and file a petition with the juvenile court.

It is alleged that Ms. Brown and her supervisor, Ms. Williams, were grossly negligent and reckless in performing their duties because they failed to:

1. provide a safety plan to protect Aaron;
2. respond and follow through on reports of the mental health workers;
3. ask the police for a safety check;
4. file a petition with the juvenile court authorities; and
5. follow the CPS policy and procedure.

An extensive investigation was conducted in this case and the facts and evidence will be presented at the preliminary examination.

Charges for Defendants Brown and Williams*

Count One for Defendants Brown and Williams

Involuntary Manslaughter (Felony - 15 year maximum penalty)

It is alleged that Defendants Brown and Walker did cause the death of Aaron Minor, a threeyear-old child, due to the grossly negligent failure to perform the following legal duty: Being the assigned Child Protective Services Worker and/or CPS Supervisor for Aaron Minor, a three year old child, and having a legal duty to protect the safety and well being of the child during an ongoing protective service investigation, and having been apprised that the child was at imminent risk of harm, did fail to develop a safety plan and/or fail to monitor the well being of the child and/or fail to follow policy, procedure and training as required by the Department of Health and Human Services, and/or did ignore ongoing reports that the child’s mother was increasingly incapable of caring for the child due to mental illness, and that the child was, therefore, at a continuing risk of harm.

Count 2 for Defendants Brown and Williams

Child Abuse Second Degree (Felony -10 year maximum penalty)

It is alleged that Defendants Brown and Williams did cause serious physical harm and/or knowingly or intentionally commit an act likely to cause serious physical harm: Being the assigned Child Protective Services Worker and/or CPS Supervisor for Aaron Minor, a three year old child, and having a legal duty to protect the safety and well being of the child during an ongoing protective service investigation, and having been apprised that the child was at imminent risk of harm, did fail to develop a safety plan and/or fail to monitor the well being of the child and/or fail to follow policy, procedure and training as required by the Department of Health and Human Services, and/or did ignore ongoing reports that the child’s mother was increasingly incapable of caring for the child due to mental illness, and that the child was, therefore, at a continuing risk of harm.

Count Three for Defendants Brown and Williams

Public Officer - Willful Neglect of Duty (Misdemeanor - One Year)

It is alleged that Defendants Brown and Williams did neglect their duties as Protective Service Worker and/or Protective Service Supervisor under the Child Protection Act of 1975.

Statement of Prosecutor Worthy

"We charged this case after much thought and deliberation. 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."

Arraignment

Defendants Brown and Williams are expected to be arraigned in 36th District Court on Monday, November 14, 2016 at 10:30 a.m.

*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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