SALINAS -- The recent death of a 2-year-old in foster care
has prompted county officials to ask for a state review of the
case.
Jaime Ceballos died Nov. 27
while he was in the care of Ada and Antonio Sifuentes. At the
time of his death, the boy had been with the Sifuentes' for
nearly half his life.
Officials from the Monterey County
Coroner's division have been unable to conclude whether the
death was an accident or a criminal act.
Salinas police say they believe
the death was an accident, probably resulting from a collision
the hyperactive boy had with a dull, small object that caused
internal bleeding and an infection in his stomach.
But the child's mother, Megan
Allen, insists the county wrongfully took Jaime and her three
other children from her. She believes he was abused.
Meanwhile, the District
Attorney's Office is reviewing the case to determine whether
negligence-related charges should be filed against the foster
parents.
Citing confidentiality policies,
the director of the Monterey County Department of Social and
Employment Services, Elliott Robinson, would not discuss the
specifics of the case, but he said he's asked the California
Department of Social Services to review it.
