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State Neglect: Teen Dies During 53-Hour Shift
3 Jan
Summary
- 16-year-old died in state care while supervised by a worker on an extended shift.
- The caretaker was reportedly on a 53-hour shift when the neglectful death occurred.
- The state ended housing children in hotels after this tragic incident.
A 16-year-old girl under state care died tragically last September at a hotel near Johns Hopkins Hospital. A recent report from the Maryland Department of Human Services found that Kanaiyah Ward was neglected by her supervisor, who was reportedly working an extended 53-hour shift. This supervision failure occurred while Ward was housed in a hotel suite.
According to the findings, Ward took her own life during the extended shift, overdosing on medication. Her family's lawyer criticized the inadequate oversight and the decision to place Ward in a hotel, especially after multiple facilities refused her. The state has since ceased housing children in hotels following this incident.
Governor Wes Moore has pledged to reform the Department of Human Services, acknowledging systemic issues that predated his administration. The investigation determined that three staff members from Fenwick Behavioral Services, the contracted agency, were responsible for neglect due to insufficient care and failure to secure medications. Fenwick's owner disputes the findings, stating they will appeal the neglect determination.
