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Police question 9 in tot's death

Court says boy, 2, was burned, had broken bones and bruises; probe centers on foster parent, others.

Kim Kozlowski / The Detroit News
August 26, 2006

Visitation

Where: Nie Funeral Home, 2400 Carpenter Road, Ann Arbor.
Hours: 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Thursday
Funeral: A private funeral will be Friday. He will be cremated.

DETROIT -- Isaac Lethbridge, the 2-year-old boy who died last week in a Detroit foster home, suffered a violent death, according to documents from Wayne County's Juvenile Court.

He had second degree burns on 80 percent of his chest, abdomen and head; a broken clavicle; a fresh bruise on his forehead and right ear; and bruises around his ankle. His body also bore signs of sexual abuse.

Detroit police are investigating the foster homeowner, Charlise Adams-Rogers, along with eight other people who were in the home at the time of Isaac's death Aug. 16. They include Adams-Rogers' 41-year-old son; two grandsons, ages 16 and 19; an adopted 18-year-old daughter; and two other adults.

The juvenile court on Friday authorized the removal of Adams-Rogers' two adopted children, said Wayne County Chief Judge Mary Beth Kelly. The children were removed earlier this week. The Michigan Department of Human Services also filed a petition to terminate Adams-Rogers' parental rights.

"We don't understand how someone could do that to someone so innocent," said Isaac's biological father, Matthew Lethbridge of Whitmore Lake. "Isaac was just such a happy, loving little boy. I am outraged, I am furious and I am disgusted."

Adams-Rogers, 59, could not be reached for comment. Court documents dating back to 1999 revealed complaints of abuse and neglect of Adams-Rogers' own children and her foster children.

Besides Adams-Rogers' two adopted children, Isaac was living in the home with his sister and two other foster children, all of whom were victims of neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse, court documents said.

Court documents show witnesses gave conflicting reports of Isaac's death.

Adams-Rogers told police she put Isaac down for a nap at 4 p.m. and when he was checked at 4:45 p.m., he was dead. Her 18-year-old daughter reported later that she found Isaac under a blanket. When she removed the blanket, she saw he was blue and called 911.

Emergency officials attempted to resuscitate Isaac when they arrived at 5:05 p.m. At 5:15 p.m., Adams-Rogers called the Lula Belle Stewart foster care agency to report that Isaac was being taken to Children's Hospital of Michigan. Adams-Rogers called back 45 minutes later to report he had died.

Adams-Rogers told hospital staff she found Isaac on the floor near his bunk bed. She said she did not know how he was burned or got the bruises, documents said.

You can reach Kim Kozlowski at (313) 222-2024 or kkozlowski@detnews.com.

 

 

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