Syracuse, N.Y. — A county child protective worker who investigated concerns about Ashton DeGonzaque’s welfare multiple times before the 11-year-old’s death has been put on unpaid administrative leave, according to a source familiar with the investigation.
A supervisor of the worker was also put on leave, the source said. The Onondaga County Department of Children and Families is investigating DeGonzaque’s case. Syracuse police are also investigating the boy’s death.
Several people, including DeGonzaque’s family and neighbors, said they called the county because they were concerned about Ashton’s living situation. In November, the 11-year-old found a dead body in his father’s home after a man died there of an overdose.
Syracuse police Sgt. Thomas Blake responded to that call and spoke with DeGonzaque. Blake said no family members were with the boy and the home was unkempt with a mattress in the middle of the floor.
DeGonzaque’s great-aunt and a neighbor both said the house was a known drug house and a stream of people, often visibly high, were always coming and going.
In the past year, police have been called to the home at 604 E. Division St. more than 50 times.
The call Thursday was for a child “in full arrest.” DeGonzaque was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The sixth-grader at Grant Middle School had cocaine, fentanyl and cannabis in his system, his great-aunt said she was told by a doctor. Vickie Homer, who saw her great-nephew’s body at the hospital, said DeGonzaque had burns on his legs, sores on his ankles and that his head had been shaved because he had lice.
Homer said she and other family members made at least four calls to child protective workers, including one to New York State, because they were worried DeGonzaque was in danger.
After every complaint, including when DeGonzaque found the dead man in his father’s home, Homer said they were told those concerns proved unfounded and there was nothing that CPS workers…
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