Source: Los Angeles Times
By: By Matt Stevens and Garrett Therolf
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-foster-mother-prison-20140221,0,5480985.story#axzz2uEKVquH2
About three years ago foster mother, Kiana Barker beat her adopted two year old girl to death. The tragic incident occurred as Barker burst into the room after numerous amounts of alcohol consumption. She repetitively beat little Viola until she realized that she stopped breathing at one point. After hearing no pulse form the child she called 911 and informed them of the situation. She was then sent to the hospital, but only to discover there that she was dead on arrival. After years of viewing this case the court just recently sentenced Barker's punishment of 25-years-to-life in prison.
Not only did this case gain the justice it deserved, but the recognition and change it needed. Before this incident the Los Angeles County was contracted with United Care, a non-profit foster care agency. This agency united Barker and Viola together, but soon after the death of the young girl they terminated the contract. At least four children in Los Angeles County had died as a result of abuse or neglect over the past five years in homes overseen by private agencies, such as United Care. By making the precautions of reviewing criminal history and terminating the connection of unreliable foster agencies they prevent any future cases, such as this one to occur again.
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