Kansas agency balks at releasing records for slain child

BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ child welfare agency balked at releasing records about a 3-yearold girl whose battered body was found this month, despite a 2018 law that aimed to make such documents more transparent.

That law says Kansas

Department for Children and Families’ documents are public records in the event child abuse or neglect results in a child fatality or near fatality. However, the agency declined to release to The Associated Press records pertaining to Olivia Ann Jansen, saying it is still investigating whether Olivia’s death was a result of abuse or neglect. Prosecutors have charged Olivia’s father and his girlfriend with murder.

“Much to my dismay DCF continues to handle protective services as a confidential undertaking and it shouldn’t be,” said state Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita Democrat. “The safety of our children is something all Kansans are entitled to know details and, if there has been malfeasance on the DCF, people need to know that.”

Olivia’s remains were found in a shallow grave on July 10, after her father, Howard Jansen III, 29, reported the Kansas City, Kansas, girl missing. According to a probable cause affidavit, Olivia’s body was covered with bruises and she died of a brain bleed.

The girl’s grandparents said they had raised concerns about her safety with child protective services. The AP filed a request with the Department of Children and Families on July 13 seeking copies of any records concerning reports of alleged abuse or neglect about the girl.