Too late for Michelle Fontanez

According to the Fort Myers News-Press, Florida's Department of Children and Family has sent a memo to all its lawyers statewide. The memo was to make clear the agency could protect children from their step-parents.

"It should be clearly understood that the Department has authority to investigate abuse claims involving acts of stepparents toward a stepchild as well as acts by other caregivers towards children, and can take appropriate steps to protect a child in such situations where it is determined such action is required," wrote John Copelan, general counsel of the Florida Department of Children & Families in a memo to its lawyers in 15 DCF districts across the state.

The memo was in response to an article by The News-Press last Sunday that reported that DCF lawyers claimed they couldn't ask the court to remove Michelle Fontanez from her home because her sexual abuse claims were made against her stepfather, not a parent. The 13-year-old Lehigh Acres girl was raped and killed last month while in DCF care.

My reaction to this news- BIG DEAL!

DCF and its Knucklehead Attorney Andrea Lang bungled this case. A girl is dead because Ms. Lang put her job before the welfare of a child and DCF stood by and did nothing.

So they'll do what is right in the future. What should be done now is a State Prosecutor look into charges against Andrea Lang. Passing the buck is not acceptable policy and to to get the message across to DCF, charges need to be filed. A child is dead, Lang is alive and she is at fault. There will be no justice till Ms. Lang is put on trial for this fiasco.

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