Mass. DCF Missed Warning Signs, Girl Suffered ‘Chronic Neglect’ Before Death, Report Says

DCF closed the case on a Worcester family. A year later, a 4-year-old was dead.

A'zella Ortiz, 4, was allegedly killed by her father after years of "chronic and cumulative" neglect. DCF thought they were in New York.

Mass. DCF missed warning signs, girl suffered ‘chronic neglect’ before death, report says

DCF had been involved with the family for nearly four years due to neglect concerns, yet the children remained in their parents’ care, a 65-page report revealed.

The case of a Worcester father charged with murdering his child reveals a critical lack of standards at DCF, state report finds - The Boston Globe

A state report found the Massachusetts child welfare agency failed to properly respond to warning signs about a Worcester couple before the death of their daughter.

Report: DCF failed 4-year-old Worcester girl before death

The state’s child welfare system failed 4-year-old A’zella Ortiz and her siblings, according to a scathing report released Wednesday by the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA). It found that the Department of Children and Families (DCF) missed warning signs and closed its case a year before the Worcester girl was killed. The OCA stated the Ortiz family had been served by DCF between 2018 and 2023 for a total of three years and eight months due to…

Report released following investigation into death of Worcester 4-year-old - Boston News, Weather, Sports

The state Office of the Child Advocate released a report Wednesday following its investigation into the death of a 4-year-old in Worcester last year. A’zella Ortiz’s father, Francisco Ortiz, has been charged with her murder; he is currently in jail awaiting trial. Two of A’zella’s siblings were also found hurt. The report found that although the Department of Children and Families intervened, it missed key warning signs and did not properly eval…

Report finds DCF mistakenly closed Worcester family's case before death of 4-year-old girl