Foster Mother in Nevada Arrested for Death of a 7-Month-Old

Las Vegas, Nevada - Foster mother Melanie Ann Ochs has been arrested in connection with the death of a 7 month old foster child known only as "Baby Boy Charles".

On August 2nd, someone called the emergency line to report that Charles wasn't breathing. He was taken to the University Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries 2 days later.

At the time, Melanie Ochs was referred to by authorities as a "person of interest". However, the Clark County Coroner's Office had to wait 2 months for the results of the toxicology screen before ruling his death a homicide. Cause of death is listed as blunt force trauma to the head.

Charles' skull was fractured. First, the foster mother said that another child had pushed the baby down. Later, she told authorities that he had slipped and hit his head in the bathtub.

2 other children living in the home, ages 2 and 3, were also removed. They had been adopted by Ochs. Charles had been in Melanie's care since shortly after his birth.

Melanie was arrested on October 5th and attended her first hearing by closed circuit television the following Monday. Bail has been set at $250,000.

Melanie Ochs reportedly stated that his injuries were accidental and she intends to plead not guilty.

Charles' death is only one of many that shows why, earlier this year, a special state panel was formed to examine failures of the child welfare system in Clark County. They also intend to launch investigations into the deaths of children in protective custody.

From the period of 2001-2004, there were 79 suspicious child deaths in Clark County. Of those, 11 children died in county custody. Those deaths were not investigated for child abuse or neglect.

Since Charles' death in August, 3 children have died who have had contact with Clark County Child Welfare Services. Of those, one was already in the county's shelter for abused and neglected children. That child, Joshua Sharp, reportedly stopped breathing on August 15th at Child Haven.