Indiana Child Protective Services cannot say yet why 2-year-old Jalen Blake was not removed from his mother’s care after a positive methamphetamine test in early June.
The child died June 28 at Riley Hospital in Indianapolis. According to the Marion County Coroner’s Office, the toddler died from a blunt impact to his head.
On June 6, results of a urine sample obtained from Jalen Blake on May 30 at a local doctor’s office tested positive for methamphetamine. According to court records, a local Child Protective Services case worker attended the doctor’s appointment where the urine sample was taken and on June 9 talked to the family about the positive drug test.
The child’s mother, Vadney Blake, 22, of Montgomery, was arrested two weeks ago and is now charged with neglect of a dependent and conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Police say more charges may be filed against Vadney.
According to a police affidavit, Vadney Blake failed a polygraph test on June 2 concerning her son’s recent injuries.
Melinda Berry, director of Daviess County’s Child Protective Services, referred all questions about the case to the Indiana Child Protective Services headquarters in Indianapolis.
Susan Tilking, spokesperson for Indiana CPS, said that CPS can’t release specifics on Blake’s case until after it has been substantiated that his death was caused by abuse or neglect.
Tilking said CPS cannot say yet why Jalen Blake was not removed from his mother’s care after the positive drug test, but she did say normal procedure would be to remove a child from a home after he or she has tested positive for drugs and to place that child in different custody.
If it is found in cases like Blake’s that this procedure was not followed, CPS, as part of its own investigation, would look at internal staff decisions and see if any discipline is appropriate, said Tilking.
The father of the child, Justin Blake, had been in jail for about 505 days at the time of Jalen’s death. He and Vadney Blake are still married, according to police.
Daviess County Sheriff’s Detective Gary Allison said his office is waiting on additional reports from the Marion County Coroner’s Office. The Indiana State Police are also still investigating the toddler’s death and possibly will be presenting a case to the Dubois County Prosecutor for more charges in regards to the child’s death. The coroner’s office said Thursday a media information sheet on Jalen’s death will be sent today to the Times-Herald.
The probable cause affidavit stated Vadney Blake admitted that she had abused Jalen and suspected Jeff Truelove may have as well.
Truelove, 40, Jasper, fled while state police were checking on his probation status and later committed suicide in a cemetery near Loogootee on July 14.
Vadney Blake is currently housed in the Daviess County Security Center on $500,000 bond. She is due in court for a pretrial conference on Aug. 26. The court appointed Jasper attorney Anthony D. Quinn to represent her.
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