XAVIER GENTLEMAN - 2 yo - (2010) Linden NJ

A Linden woman who was charged with murder today in the death of a
2-year-old boy in her care has been investigated by child welfare
officials five times in the past decade, most recently in September.
The state’s involvement in the life of Diana Matthews, 31, came to
light after her arrest this afternoon on a charge of first-degree
murder. Matthews is accused of killing Xavier Gentleman, who was rushed
to an Elizabeth hospital with unspecified injuries Feb. 25. He was
pronounced dead a short time later.
Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow would not release a
cause of death for the boy, saying only that Matthews’ statements to
police did not square with the medical evidence.
"Crimes against children are especially heinous," Romankow said in a
statement. "Xavier was clearly the victim of abuse, and no child should
have to suffer like that."
Matthews, a friend of Xavier’s biological mother, was the child’s
legal guardian and had raised him since he was a baby. Matthews also
cared for two of Xavier’s siblings and three of her own children, the
prosecutor said. All five children — ranging in age from 1 month to 12
years — have since been placed in foster care.
The state Department of Children and Families has launched its own
investigation into Xavier’s death. As part of that probe, the agency
will review all of its contacts with Matthews and the children, said
Lauren Kidd, a department spokeswoman.
A caseworker last had face-to-face contact with Xavier on Jan. 9 of
this year, according to a two-page case history released by DCF this
afternoon. The report does not elaborate on the contact, and Kidd could
not immediately say whether the caseworker was there to see Xavier or
another child in the house.
The state Division of Youth and Family Services, part of DCF, most
recently investigated Matthews in September on a report of suspected
abuse. While Xavier was in Matthews’ care at the time, the case history
does not specify if he was the alleged victim. Kidd said last night the
allegation was not in reference to a particular child in the house.
The abuse charge was deemed unfounded, and the case was closed Nov. 17.
"Record indicates no bruises observed," the history states.
DYFS investigated Matthews four other times — in 2000, 2003, 2004
and 2006 — after receiving allegations of neglect, abuse or drug use.
The neglect and abuse claims were deemed unfounded. The case history
does not specify whether drug use was confirmed, but the report does
note that services and supervision were provided.
Matthews, a former Elizabeth resident who moved to East 13th Street
in Linden only a few months ago, was held in lieu of $600,000 bail
today at the Union County Jail.
Xavier’s biological mother, Vanessa Gentleman, could not be reached
today. State records show Gentleman, 29, served more than two years in
prison, beginning in 2003, after her conviction on a sexual assault
charge.

Linden woman accused in death of 2-year-old boy pleads not guilty
Published: Friday, March 12, 2010, 6:32 PM Updated: Friday, March 12, 2010, 6:36 PM
By Julie O'Connor/The Star-Ledger



LINDEN -- Wiping her eyes with one of her hands, a Linden woman accused of murder in the death of a 2-year-old boy in her care pleaded not guilty at her first court appearance today.

Diana Matthews, 31, stood behind glass partition before Superior Court Judge Joan Robinson Gross in Elizabeth, dressed in a blue prison uniform. She spoke only to provide her address to the judge.
Her public defender, Peter Liguori, entered a not guilty plea on her behalf. Her bail remains set at $600,000.

After Matthews was arrested earlier this week, it came to light that she had been investigated by child welfare officials five times in the past decade, most recently in September.

Matthews is accused of killing Xavier Gentleman, who died on Feb. 25 of unspecified injuries. As her public defender left court today, he would not comment on the case, saying only, "We trust the criminal justice system, and justice will be done."

Authorities have not released a cause of death for the boy, saying only that information provided to police did not match medical evidence.

"Xavier was clearly the victim of abuse, and no child should have to suffer like that," Union County Prosecutor Theodore Romankow said in a statement.

Matthews, a friend of Xavier’s biological mother, was the child’s legal guardian and had raised him since he was a baby.

Matthews had also cared for two of Xavier’s siblings and three of her own children. All five children have since been placed in foster care. The state Department of Children and Families is also investigating Xavier’s death.

Matthews was investigated in September and four other times — from 2000 to 2006 — on allegations of neglect, abuse or drug use, authorities said. A case history report said the neglect and abuse claims were unfounded. It did not say whether drug use was confirmed, but noted services and supervision were provided.

Xavier’s biological mother, Vanessa Gentleman, 29, was released from state prison in 2005. She served more than two years in jail after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl she had mentored in a middle school, according to State Police.

Gentleman is now under lifetime parole supervision.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/linden_woman_accused_in_death.html

Woman tormented by 2-year-old son's death
Friday, March 19, 2010



Phil Lipof
Eyewitness News
LINDEN (WABC) -- The woman who was caring for the two year old boy is charged with his murder, but boy's biological mother says DYFS also didn't follow its own rules.

"I haven't even had time to grieve," Vanessa Gentleman said.

She is tormented by the death of her 2 year old son Xavier.

Standing over his grave, she is forced to stare at the house where he died -- the place where police say he was beaten to death.

"It hurts. It hurts," she said.
Vanessa is the first to admit, she is no angel. She spent almost three years in prison.

When she got out and had Xavier, and then his little sister, unique, she was struggling and didn't want them living in a shelter. So, she placed them in the care of her friend, Diana Matthews.

Soon, she began to notice cuts and bruises, so she took pictures of a black eye, split lip and a gash on Xavier's head.

She says she complained several times to the Department of Children and Families.

A week before Xavier died, a case worker went to the house to check on him, but was told by Matthews that he wasn't there.

Vanessa asked the case worker if she asked to see Xavier?

"She said no and that she would come back in a week. A week later my son was gone," Vanessa said.

DYFS is limited with what they can, by law, tell us, but we have confirmed they "were" visiting the Matthews' home.

When there is an open case, a worker must see the child every 30 days.

The last time anyone from DYFS saw Xavier was on January 9th. He died on February 25th, forty-six days later.

Vanessa was also angry to find out that DYFS had past contact with Matthews.

A Department of Children and Families document shows Matthews was investigated 4 times from 2000 to 2006 for allegations of neglect, abuse and drug use surrounding her own children.

The department said the claims were unfounded.

"If DYFS knew something I didn't, why didn't they tell me?" Vanessa wondered.

So now, Vanessa is going door to door asking neighbors if they saw or heard anything while her children lived here.

But no answer she gets and no amount of jail time will ever be enough.

Nothing will change the fact that in his short life, little Xavier suffered and then died.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=7340155

Linden guardian sentenced in abuse death of toddler
11:30 AM, Oct. 1, 2011

ELIZABETH — A New Jersey woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison for the death of her 2-year-old foster son, who authorities say was habitually beaten by other children who lived in her home.

Diana Matthews had raised Xavier Gentleman since he was an infant and was his legal guardian. She also served as guardian of his two younger siblings and had three sons of her own — ages 9, 10 and 12 — and they all lived in her Linden home.

Union County prosecutors have not said which children beat the toddler, who died in February 2010, or disclosed specific details about his injuries. But authorities say she ignored the abuse, which occurred over a six-month period.

The 33-year-old Matthews had previously pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20111001/NJNEWS/310010028/Linden-guardian-sentenced-abuse-death-toddler