Man charged in cousin’s death says arrest illegal
As a Milwaukee man charged with killing his teen cousin fights his arrest in court, recent reports from state child welfare officials show a worker had visited the girl’s guardians to investigate possible abuse three days before she died.
Christopher Ward, 19, was charged earlier this year with second-degree reckless homicide in the death of 14year-old Jada Wright, who had cerebral palsy and used a wheelchair.
Ward, who has pleaded not guilty, is arguing his arrest was illegal, noting police questioned everyone in the house about Jada’s death, according to a court filing.
After Ward was arrested, he told police he had become frustrated with Jada when trying to feed her using a tube and punched her, the complaint says.
A judge was expected to rule on the motion Friday, but the hearing was moved to July 20 because another trial was underway in the courtroom.
Jada’s parents are deceased. Ward’s mother became Jada’s legal guardian in late September and Ward then became the teen’s “personal care worker,” the complaint says.
Before Jada’s death, child welfare workers received one call alleging the teen was being abused in her current home, according to a report from the state Department of Children and Families.
A worker with the Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services determined Jada Wright was safe after a home visit with her, her guardians and two of her cousins.
The home visit occurred on Feb. 12, Jada’s birthday. She died three days later.
After her death, child welfare officials found there was “insufficient evidence” of neglect of Jada and determined her minor relatives were safe and could remain in the home, according to the report.
The agency closed the case and referred her guardian’s family to community resources.
The 90-day summary report from the state, required by law to be made public, also noted child welfare officials had received numerous allegations of past neglect by Jada’s mother, who is now deceased. In all of those cases, the agency determined Jada and her siblings were safe.
Court records and the child welfare summary report do not indicate when Jada’s mother died.