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Child Killed

Tulsa, OK: (May-20-08) The family of Keenan Taylor brought charges against the Department of Human Services, after the two-year-old boy was killed by his father. The suit stated that the boy died just nine days from his third birthday, after his father, Carlis Ball, was convicted of killing him by pouring boiling water on him then delaying calling 911 for a day. Official records showed that DHS ordered Keenan removed from his mother's custody in December 2004. He was sent to live with Ball.

Later, the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth found evidence that DHS workers mishandled reports or, in some cases, conjured them. It was indicated that on being called to investigate Carlis Ball's home after receiving complaints that Keenan had open sores on his legs and the home smelled of urine, a caseworker claimed to be at the home the day before the report and found nothing unusual. The suit, filed by Keenan's grandfather, accused DHS for the boy's death. As part of a settlement announced recently by the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services, officials said that the state would pay $160,000 to resolve the wrongful death lawsuit. [NEWS ON 6: SETTLEMENT REACHED WITH KEENAN TAYLOR'S GRANDFATHER]

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Last updated on May-23-08