Diamond Mattox and Dekia

UPDATE, December 31, 2009: "Inspection found nothing amiss"

A social worker from the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare investigated an abuse complaint about baby Dekia Mattox just seven weeks before authorities say she was killed by a homeless drug addict in a filthy, cold home, according to a statement released Wednesday by the state Department of Children and Families.

The bureau's Nov. 4 investigation - which stated "the home was in order," contained food, had a well-heated bedroom for the baby and contained no evidence of drug use - stands in sharp contrast to the medical examiner's report, filed shortly after the baby's death Dec. 26.

So what happened?

Everything went to hell at the home after November 4?

That's hard to believe.
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Darius Woodley has been charged in the death of 6-month-old Dekia Mattox.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Darius Woodley, a drug-addled homeless man who police say was left in charge of 6-month-old Dekia Mattox in a filthy, barely heated Milwaukee cottage, was charged Tuesday with killing the baby and stuffing her body between a couple of mattresses.

Neither the baby's 15-year-old mother, Diamond Mattox, nor Mattox's aunt, who had been responsible for the teen nearly her entire life, were home when the baby was killed early Saturday.

The state-run Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare was involved with Dekia's family, which was the subject of an ongoing investigation, said Erika Monroe-Kane, a spokeswoman for the Department of Children and Families. The DCF, which runs the Milwaukee bureau, is preparing a report that will outline the bureau's involvement, she said.

Here we go again with the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare.

Obviously, it's too early to accuse the system for failing baby Dekia. Nonetheless, it is very troubling that the bureau was involved with the family and the outcome was catastrophic.

...According to the complaint and a medical examiner's report:

Mattox left the child with the aunt, Sharon D. Coleman, 48, on Christmas Eve in a cottage the three shared with Coleman's boyfriend, Willie McElroy, 39. The cottage, a dilapidated structure that neighbors said was a drug house, is behind a house in the 2700 block of N. Richards St.

Around midnight Christmas Day, Coleman left the baby with McElroy and Woodley while she went out with another man.

McElroy told police he and Woodley, 36, had spent most of Christmas Day robbing stores and using the proceeds to buy drugs. He said the two smoked marijuana laced with crack, snorted heroin and drank beer.

Coleman, McElroy said, was gone for hours, and the baby began to cry.

McElroy said he left the baby with Woodley while he went searching for Coleman, once at 2 a.m. Saturday and again sometime between 2:30 and 3 a.m.

McElroy told police he stopped to buy $10 worth of crack and then returned to the cottage, which was heated by three space heaters. The temperature on the main floor was 40 degrees. Knives were found on the floor of nearly every room. The bathroom contained a leaking toilet and a broken sink. Dirty dishes filled the kitchen sink. Investigators found empty liquor bottles and beer cans, piles of dirty clothes, discarded baby bottles and little food.

When McElroy returned to the house the second time, he found Woodley passed out on a bed but did not see Dekia.

McElroy woke up Woodley and began searching the house for the baby.

According to the complaint, McElroy looked in a bedroom where he found "a hump in the mattress." He lifted the mattress and found Dekia's body. The child was not breathing.

McElroy said he gave the baby to Woodley, who said, "Man, I didn't mean to do that."

This makes me so angry.

Such incredible irresponsibility!

Clearly, conditions at the home were unfit for a baby. Even if the bureau's involvement with the family was minimal, I don't see how the baby was allowed to remain in that home under those horrible conditions.

I put a tremendous amount of blame on Diamond Mattox, Dekia's mother. Yes, she's just 15 years old, but she's responsible for her child.

How many more children will Diamond Mattox have and neglect?

The thought is sickening.

Darius Woodley is charged in Dekia's death as he should be, but where was the baby's mother?

Diamond Mattox isn't a victim. She had a child that she was unable and/or unwilling to properly care for. She didn't protect Dekia, her most basic responsibility as a mother.

Who the hell would leave their 6-month-old baby with a "drug-addled homeless man"?

Who would leave anyone's child with a "drug-addled homeless man"?

Bottom line: This precious life ended because she didn't have people who loved her enough to keep her alive.