Sacramento CPS Won't Explain Why It Left 2-Year-Old Homicide Victim In Dangerous Home
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Sacramento Child Protective Services is continuing to refuse to explain why it didn't do more to protect a 2-year-old boy killed in his Sacramento home.
CBS13 obtained CPS reports detailing the filthy and dangerous living conditions the toddler lived in.
CBS13's Maria Medina talked with the boy's neighbors who are painting an even clearer picture of his troubling life.
Linda Hernandez knew William Philyaw's mother, Tiphanie, well, and tried to revive the toddler on Nov. 5 when he died.
She says CPS became involved when William's parents were still together. Reports document a life of violence, and a home with no electricity or food, exposed wires, roaches, and people using crystal meth.
"That was when Tiphanie was trying to leave an abusive relationship," Hernandez said.
Linda says Tiphanie did leave with her two sons, escaping with just the clothes on their backs. She says they moved to the apartment off of Watt Avenue in September where William would died of blunt force trauma weeks later.
Investigators say the boy's mother left her toddler with a neighbor, but not one is charged in his death yet. The neighbor, Samuel Crutchor, remains a person of interest, but is not a suspect.
Sacramento County Sheriff's detectives say the investigation is far from done and could take months.
What's certain though, is that despite CPS deeming William's home a high risk, workers never took him away, citing insufficient evidence.
Linda says his mother refuses to go back to the home where her son died.
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