Foster Mother Indicted for Capital Murder
Grand Jury Met October 26th
The child, Christian Nieto, was a foster child in her custody who died on September 4th at her home in Corsicana. His death was due to head injuries. He was 16 months old.
Bond was set at $750,000.
Christian and his 3-year-old brother, Logan, were entrusted to an agency that had a lengthy recent history of placing children in dangerous or deadly foster homes. At least one child had previously died in their custody. They were removed from their parents for drug addiction.
The agency shuffled the boys through five foster homes in 7 months. The last move killed Christian.
The papers state that she may have just been overburdened, which left her unable to save him. She's being charged with a capital crime, however, his murder.
Beverly Latimer still sits in Navarro County jail. She was licensed through Mesa Family Services. Mesa is now on state probation and licensing officials have suspended placements. The state has moved to revoke their license.
The case spotlights the failures in the foster care system that occur when parties don't do their part for the protection of children. In this case, a child had to die for them to pay attention, as so often happens. The murder of children in care is often the spark that foster care reform needed before the child was placed in harm's way.
Problems with the system in Texas, as reported, are many and varied. Not enough foster contractors, too much privatization in foster care, more removals and a shortage of foster homes, and serious questions about the licensing process for foster contractors and potential foster parents. Many states repeatedly cite similar problems in the wake of a child's death. Reforms rarely work the way we would hope.
As for Christian's brother, Logan, he is back with his natural parents.
Published by Liz Copeland
I'm a freelance writer, DMC mentor, and artisan-level embroiderer. I knit, crochet, sew, quilt, and spin my own yarn as well. I'm an instructor for embroidery and other fiber and textile related crafts. View profile
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3 Comments
Post a Commenttj wils, your a sick individual to fight for someone that killed a child in cold blood. For your information most people that take children in are nice people or highly christian to put on a show to cover up the abuse, probley like the nice clothes she used to cover her inflictions on them children. This lady got what she deserved despite what you think. get a grip "sicko". If it were your child you would have wanted justice i hope.
May god bless your wretched soul.
Free Beverly!
I was in that church. Nobody slammed the baby's head but the baby himself.
The baby had emotional problems as his parents had abused and neglected him, but he missed them still. The baby slammed his head every few moments... I watched. My children watched! Beverly is one of the kindest most caring people I have ever known. She would never hurt a child. Her foster children were the best dressed and taken care of. Beverly is innocent. On top of that, the backwards town had a 50/50 jury, for and against. That was with NO testimony allowed on her part, and results of her passing 2 polygraphs were nto admitted. Think, people, and all of you who have foster children, God knows they need a loving home, but is it worth it to loose your life, the rest of it after getting a sick and distraught child? BTW, the child had just been release from the hospital for head wounds, was cleared to go..??? and the person who had the child previously could or would not have them back so CPS
When is it alright to leave a 16 month old child alone? The child should have been with her while feeding the other children. Her failure to ensure the child's safety at all times is the reason he is dead.