IN LOVING MEMORY OF SARITA SOLETO

Three weeks before she was born, Sirita Sotelo was the subject of a Child Protective Services (CPS) referral, alleging prenatal substance abuse by her mother. After she tested positive for cocaine at birth on February 12, 2000, CPS filed for dependency and placed Sirita in foster care. Over the next three years, CPS made numerous attempts to reunite Sirita with her mother. Services were provided to address the mothers substance abuse and mental health issues. Four times Sirita was placed with her mother, only to again be removed due to allegations of abuse and neglect. During this period, Sirita experienced seven different placement episodes, alternating between foster care and placement with her mother. She spent over 25 months in foster care, in eight different foster homes, 2 and 19 months placed with her mother. While efforts were being made to reunite Sirita with her mother, her father, who was notified of the dependency action, did not involve himself in the dependency process or seek placement of Sirita. In May 2003, the CPS filed for termination of parental rights, based on the length of time Sirita had been in state care, the failed reunification attempts with the mother, and the fathers lack of participation in the dependency action or reunification efforts. However, after learning that the department was seeking to terminate parental rights, Siritas father stepped forward and requested that she be placed with him and his wife. Sirita was with her foster mom and tried to adopt Sirita with her husband Gary. CPS conducted a home study and developed a service plan for the father, which included a drug/alcohol assessment, parenting classes, weekly visits with Sirita and a psychological evaluation. The father successfully completed these services and in November 2003, Sirita was placed with her father, stepmother and their four children. Monthly visits to check on Siritas health and safety occurred in December 2003, January 2004, February 2004 and the last visit occurred in May 2004. Although caseworkers identified a need for counseling, this service was not implemented. On January 22, 2005 only two months after the dependency case was closed, CPS received a referral from law enforcement reporting a suspicious death of a four year old Sirita. The stepmother and another relative had been with Sirita the night of her death and reportedly called poison control stating that Sirita had gotten sick eating glue. Later that evening, the relative checked on Sirita and found her dead and then called 911. According to law enforcement the child appeared gaunt, malnourished and pale. Medical examiners later determined she died as a result of blows to the head and body causing a fractured skull and severed liver. The stepmother later stated that she couldnt handle Siritas fits and tantrums and admitted she threw her in a cold shower and beat her after the child wet her pants.

Her MySpace page is www.myspace.com/angelsirita. Please add her to your friends to show your support. Thank you.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• ELVIS PRESLEY
• MEMORIES
• SARITA SOLETO
• CHILD ABUSE
• BEATEN
• MURDER
• FOSTER PARENT
• PARENTING

[protectivemothers1]

so so sad

[ldrum4]

this video here show me how bitchi and abusive perents can be to their kid it makes me said just to see it happen and to hear about it if I knew about this back then I would of asked my mum to adopt her when she was in foster care. She would haved lived a happy and successful life if foster care didn't give her back to her mean parents because everyone should know that no one around the world was born to be mean everyone around the world were born to be nice and not abuse their babies.

[freaknpink095]

wow thats messed up read the discription plzz

[freaknpink095]

wow thats messed up

[joannibeckett]

HERES ANOTHER PRIME EXAMPLE OF CPS GETTING 'BLOOD STAINED HANDS' ONCE AGAIN!!! WHY DID'NT THEY LEAVE SIRITA WITH HER FOSTER PARENTS WHOM WERE HOPING TO ADOPT HER....NO JUST THROW HER BACK TO AN UNWANTING FATHER& STEP MOTHER WHO PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH MOUTHS TO FEED (HOPEFULLY). ITS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT THE FATHER DID'NT REALLY WANT HER IN THE FIRST PLACE! WHY DID THE SO CALLED FATHER CHANGE HIS MIND & TAKE HER ANYWAY?

RIP SWEET SIRITA....YOU WERE LOVED BY YOUR FOSTER CARERS!!

[Animalcrazy577]

God bless her young soul. STOP CHILD ABUSE

[Animalcrazy577]

So sad. I speak italian and English rather fluently, parlo molto bene Italiano e englese.

[SASUKESGIRL1995]

u didnt translate it wrong. i hve no idea wat tht guys talkin about

[ACdub100]

This girl didn't deserve all that happened to her. If it weren't for her sadist mother, this angel would still be alive today.

[happymomkidsincolleg]

May justice be served! What a precious little girl. There is something seriously wrong with her mother.