KIANA RUDESILL - 4 yo - Cullom (Central state) IL

Authorities continue to investigate the death of a four year old girl
from Cullom. An autopsy indicates Kiana Rudesill died from head
injuries. The foster child is a suspected victim of child abuse. She was
taken to a Pontiac hospital on Tuesday, after suffering from seizure
like activity. She was then transferred to OSF St. Francis Medical
Center in Peoria, where she was pronounced dead on Thursday.

Cullom foster parents under investigation in girl's death

CULLOM — Livingston County authorities and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services are investigating the death of a 4-year-old girl who was in state-licensed foster care in Cullom.
Kianna Rudesill died Thursday at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, after being flown by helicopter Tuesday from OSF Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac, said Kendall Marlowe, DCFS spokesman.
DCFS is investigating allegations of abuse and neglect by the foster mother and neglect by the foster father, Marlowe said, adding the child suffered “severe physical abuse.”
Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll could not be reached late Thursday afternoon.
The child, whose biological mother is from Bloomington, and her three siblings were placed in the foster home in August, Marlowe said. The foster parents were licensed and had not previously been investigated by DCFS, he said.
McLean County court records show the biological mother was sentenced to 18 months’ conditional discharge in September for two counts of child endangerment.
“The children were removed from their biological mother due to a situation of neglect and domestic violence by the mother’s paramour,” Marlowe said.
Marlowe said Rudesill’s siblings and the foster parents’ two biological children have been removed from the Cullom home and placed in other foster homes.
In a statement released late Thursday, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department said it is investigating the death in conjunction with the state’s attorney’s office.


Read more: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/9b07f942-776d-11e0-8328-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1RS9ljvfY

Illinois foster child's death ruled homicide

Published 02:15 p.m., Wednesday, August 24, 2011PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — A coroner's jury in Peoria County has ruled that the May
death of a 4-year-old girl who had been living in a foster home was
a homicide.
Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said Tuesday that Kianna Rudesill
was living in a foster home in Cullom in rural eastern Illinois on May 3
when she suffered numerous injuries to her head, back, arms and legs.
The girl was taken to a Peoria hospital where she died the next day.
The Pantagraph newspaper in Bloomington (http://bit.ly/pSC66L ) reported
that a pathologist found that Kianna couldn't have suffered such a range
of injuries on her own.
Family members such as Kianna's mother, Tawnee Jones, want to know why no one has been arrested.
Livingston County Sheriff's Detective Doug Bunting said an investigation is ongoing.
http://www.chron.com/news/article/Illinois-foster-child-s-death-ruled-homicide-2139359.php

FILE - Kianna Rudesill's 2010 school picture (The Pantagraph, David Proeber)
April 14, 2013 5:30 am • By Mary Ann Ford mford@pantagraph.com

PONTIAC — Livingston County State’s Attorney Seth Uphoff plans to review a 2-year-old case involving the death of a foster child to determine what — if any — criminal charges should be filed.

Uphoff was not state’s attorney on May 4, 2011, when Kianna Rudesill, 4, of Bloomington, died of head injuries. She was living with a Cullom foster family at the time. Former State’s Attorney Tom Brown did not file charges in the case.

“This case is certainly tragic,” Uphoff said last week. “I can only imagine the impact on the victim’s family. It warrants a careful and thorough review. It’s something I will focus on more.”

That was good news for Kianna’s great-grandmother, Evelyn Rudesill of El Paso.

“I’m glad he’s going to look into it,” she said. “It’s been two years and we need closure.”

While Uphoff said he knew of the case, nothing had transpired since he took office in November to bring it to the forefront. That changed last week during a juvenile court hearing to determine whether the foster parents’ two biological children could be returned to their home.

The two children — as well as Kianna’s three other siblings who also were in foster care at the home — were taken into the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services after Kianna was rushed from the Cullom home to OSF Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac on May 3, 2011.

A 911 caller from the residence said a child having seizure-like symptoms. The girl was later airlifted to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria where she underwent surgery for a severe brain injury. She was later taken off life support.

A Peoria County coroner’s jury ruled the death a homicide. A report from forensic pathologist Dr. J. Scott Denton indicated Kianna suffered eight points of impact to her head and face, seven on her back and 18 on her arms and legs. He said the injuries were “more consistent with inflicted rather than accidental blunt trauma.”

The Pantagraph has not identified the parents because no criminal charges have been filed against them.

During an initial juvenile court hearing regarding custody of the foster parents’ biological children, Livingston County Associate Judge Robert Travers determined the foster mother caused Kianna’s death after hearing testimony from doctors who treated Kianna, a pediatric specialist called in on the case and Denton.

That decision prompted the court to require the biological children remain in DCFS custody and for the parents to undergo psychological testing and to meet with a clinical psychologist.

During last week’s juvenile court hearing, clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kalvelage-Roth said she met with the parents once a month for the past year. She testified she found the couple to have very good parenting skills and recommended their biological children be allowed to return home.

When pressed by DCFS attorney Andrew Killian, Kalvelage-Roth said she believed the foster mother’s story about the incident — that Kianna threw a temper tantrum and hurt herself. Kalvelage-Roth noted Kianna had reactive attachment disorder, a psychological condition that can cause a child to “act out” and throw his or her body around during a temper tantrum.

Judge Travers asked Kalvelage-Roth if she had received a copy of the testimonies of the physicians, the pathologist and the pediatric specialist indicating Kianna’s injuries were not self inflicted. Kalvelage-Roth said she did.

“Yet you believe the (foster mother) had nothing to do with the death?” Travers asked. “You testified you believe the (foster mother’s) story. To believe her is to disbelieve or ignore the testimony of three doctors. How do you rationalize that?”

Kalvelage-Roth said she believes certain information is allowed in court and other information isn’t.

“It matters not what I believe about what the court says or (the parents) say,” Kalvelage-Roth said. “I did what DCFS asked — determine if it is safe to return the kids to the home.”

Travers said he had “grave concerns that the parents are not taking responsibility for their actions.” But he also concurred with the parents’ attorney, John Coghlan, who said the situation was at a stalemate.

Coghlan said the parents had done everything the court had asked; had received increased visitation rights; and said no evidence was ever presented that the couple abused their biological children.

While Travers said he stood by his original ruling, he believed the couples’ biological children were suffering by the separation and were being “held hostage” by a goal of finding more evidence of parents possible involvement in Kianna’s death.

He agreed to return the biological children to the home. A status hearing is scheduled on July 9.

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/livingston-county-sa-to-review-death-of-foster-child-case/article_61ac23b0-a486-11e2-a25a-001a4bcf887a.html

Sometimes Illinois just sucks at justice. It's been two years and still no justice. When three doctors tell you it's injuries by abuse then it's true. Just makes me mad. Just look at that picture. Such a gorgeous little angel. How much you want to bet that her condition of anger and fits was caused by abuse by the step, foster, whatever mother. William

Two years and they haven't even arrested these POSs. Our children are being slaughtered and many state officials don't give a damn. Why was she with these murdering monsters? Why haven't they been arrested and prosecuted.

Doesn't anyone in Illinois care about helpless babies and children?

Anyone in authority.

twinkletoes wrote:Two years and they haven't even arrested these POSs. Our children are being slaughtered and many state officials don't give a damn. Why was she with these murdering monsters? Why haven't they been arrested and prosecuted.

Doesn't anyone in Illinois care about helpless babies and children?

The states DFS is like most states. They only notice things till after it's too late for the child. Sometimes they do well but not most of the time. The states budget problem does not help. I try to vote the bums out but Chicago is just too strong and controls Illinois for it's own use. Only a stron DFS is going to change things. William

Our governor in Florida has cut funds for DCF.

Father of child who died while in foster care files lawsuit
By Mary Ann Ford | mford@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON — The father of a child who died while in a Cullom foster home nearly two years ago has filed a six-count lawsuit against the foster parents and The Baby Fold alleging each was responsible for the death of his daughter.

Kianna Rudesill was 4 when she died May 4, 2011, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria. A Peoria County coroner’s jury ruled the death a homicide, and her death certificate states the cause of death was subdural hematoma, cerebral injuries and blunt trauma of the head.

No charges have been filed, but last month recently elected Livingston County State’s Attorney Seth Uphoff said he planned to review the case and determine what — if any — criminal charges should be filed.

The civil lawsuit filed by attorneys from Spiros Law PC on Tuesday afternoon in Kankakee County Circuit Court alleges foster parents Heather and Joshua Lamie “administered blunt force trauma to the head, face, upper arms and hands” of Kianna and that those “serious” injuries led to her “untimely death.”

The Lamies lived in Cullom at the time of the incident. According to the lawsuit, they have since moved to Kankakee County.

Their attorney, John Coghlan, could not be reached for comment.

“It’s clear from the report of Dr. (forensic pathologist Scott) Denton that Kianna’s injuries were consistent with inflicted trauma,” said attorney James Spiros. “It was clear from professionals’ opinions the injuries could not be self-inflicted by a 4-year-old. It goes against the physical evidence and common sense.”

Spiros said the case is nearly two years old and Kianna’s natural father, James Rudesill, and other members of the family “deserve answers and explanations.”

The Baby Fold of Normal is named in the suit because it “was responsible for the placement and supervision” of Kianna and her three siblings, who also were placed in the foster home.

The suit alleges the Normal agency was negligent in placing Kianna in the home with a couple “unfit to take care of small children.” It alleges the foster parents neglected, mistreated, beat and/or abused Kianna and The Baby Fold ignored complaints of mistreatment and did not remove her from the home after Kianna’s wrists were “found to be cut” and she was admitted to a behavioral health hospital.

“The actions of The Baby Fold show deliberate indifference and conscious disregard to the likelihood that the foster home of Heather Lamie and Joshua Lamie was unsafe …,” the lawsuit alleges.

Julie Payne, vice president of development and public relations at The Baby Fold, said late Tuesday the agency had not received any notification of the lawsuit, “so we have no comment.”

The suit seeks damages and costs of the suit in excess of $50,000.

During a juvenile court hearing last month, Livingston County Associate Judge Robert Travers agreed to return the Lamies’ two biological children to their home. The children had been in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and living with a relative since the 2011 incident.

Travers said that while he still stood by his original juvenile court determination — that Heather Lamie caused Kianna’s death — he believed the couples’ biological children were suffering by the separation and were being “held hostage” by a goal of finding more evidence of the parents’ possible involvement in Kianna’s death.

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/father-of-child-who-died-while-in-foster-care-files/article_f88f0fee-b1e8-11e2-b90f-0019bb2963f4.html

A law suit is better than no justice at all. Maybe the DA will file charges, he sure is taking his time. William

Woman charged with murder in Livingston County foster child death
8:39AM Monday June 24, 2013

By Todd Wineburner and Eric Stock

PONTIAC - A woman accused of killing a four-year old girl who was under her care faces a judge in Livingston County Court on Monday.
Prosecutors have charged Heather Lamie, 29, in the death of Kianna Rudesill in May 2011. Lamie was arrested Friday evening at her home in Kankakee after a Livingston County grand jury indicted her on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of endangering the life or health of a child.
Livingston County State's Attorney Seth Uphoff said the girl suffered a severe blow to the head that ultimately took her life.
"The findings of doctors, who examined Kianna's injuries both before and after her death, make it clear to me that her death was not an accident," Uphoff said.   Kianna died at a Peoria hospital.   Lamie is being held on $2 million bond.   

Todd Wineburner can be reached at todd.wineburner@cumulus.com.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.

http://www.wjbc.com/common/page.php?feed=141&pt=Woman+charged+with+murder+in+Livingston+County+foster+child+death&id=64213&is_corp=0

About time she was charged.  William

It's about time.  Guess the civil lawsuit spurred some action by the state.  FINALLY.

Apparently I am too new to private message?  I wanted to post a link with reference to Kianna Rudesill.  The trial of her murderer is getting ready to begin in October and we discovered that the murderer (Heather Lamie) has a facebook page set up for support.  No one set up one for Kianna - but we want her voice heard - so I created one and wanted to share the link, but I cannot post links yet.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/563336977047165/

Jennyz14

Thanks Jenny.

Thank-you, Twink, for posting this for Jenny!