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California city and county reach $ 5million settlement over murder of child

January 4, 2019

Kayleigh Slusher

A Northern California city and county have agreed to pay a combined $5 million and make changes to how they handle child welfare cases over the torture and murder of a 3-year-old girl. [SF Chronicle]

In 2014, Kayleigh Slusher was tortured and murdered by her mother and her mother’s boyfriend. The couple stuffed the girl’s body in a duffel bag and left it in a freezer for three days before placing it in the girl’s bed.

The mother, Sara Lynn Krueger, and the boyfriend, Ryan Scott Warner, were convicted in 2017 of first-degree murder in the torture and killing of the toddler. Kreuger and Warner were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

A lawsuit filed in United States District Court in San Francisco alleged Kayleigh died, in part, because of the failure of police and social workers to recognize that the girl was suffering abuse and neglect and was in immediate danger at home because of the criminal conduct and activities of Krueger and Warner. Police made multiple visits to the house prior to the child’s murder.

The settlement, which was announced Wednesday, calls for the city and county of Napa to each pay $2.5 million to Kayleigh’s father and grandparents. The city and county of Napa have also agreed to changes in their training and policies on handling child welfare cases.

Despite agreeing to the settlement, the city and county released statements saying they followed state law in the case. Napa Police Chief Robbert Plummer said the city and police department deny liability, but made the payments agreed upon in the settlement.

“I don’t have words to describe the pain and agony I have experience since Kayleigh’s death,” Jason Slusher, the slain girl’s father, said in a statement. “It never goes away. But I want to make sure no child ever suffers the way Kayleigh did.”


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So tragic…that poor chikd. Here again its not 1 single problem. Why were the police called multiple times? We can guess why. Their hands were probably tied legally. As well, if the social worker visited the place, knew the child was in harmful environment,and didn’t react…therein lies the problem. They could not or did not because…? Those are the complex issues that need to be addressed. Protecting parental rights and yet keeping police and social workers safe from legal liability when they act out of documented concern for the child. So do sad


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Another case of the taxpayers paying and the people responsible are still employed, gotta love those government jobs, even being responsible for a death doesn’t get you fired???


3

Maybe more government is the answer, particularly here. You need a license from the government to; operate a motor vehicle, perform construction services, do accounting or legal work, cut hair or offer other often nefarious personal services services… How about a minimal review of those who propose to raise children? Being useless and having a child is a free ride in California.


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