JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Department of Children and Families releases investigative summaries in the Jessica Rivera case, who was charged with child neglect after her daughter was found unresponsive in their Arlington home last year.
Romana Bones later died at the hospital. An autopsy revealed the 13-year-old weighed just 66 pounds.
Prosecutors say Rivera didn't do enough to help her daughter, who had the mental capacity of a 5 to 7-year-old child.
According to new documents from DCF, the department had first looked into Rivera case in 2007. DCF was called to a Putnam County home where Romana Bones lived with her mother and other siblings. Investigators noted that the trailer they lived in was falling apart, and "should be condemned."
Investigative summaries: 2011 | 2008 | 2007
There were holes in the walls and broken windows. Investigators also said Bones had head lice. Investigators also noted that they were concerned because Rivera was smoking marijuana in the home around the children.
A second report concerns an incident where the 13-year-old girl was found naked in the yard. The report went on to say that Romana also had stitches, which had turned into an open wound, but Rivera did not get the child medical care.
It also described the home as a "mess, with food, trash and clothes everywhere," and that the "kids always appear dirty and appear to have weight loss."
In 2008, an inspection of the home revealed hundreds of flies, and revealed that the kids were sick, but it's unknown if the sickness was related to the flies. Many times within the reports, it stated that Rivera had complied with the case plan and that the case was closed.
"DCF had last received a report regarding the family three years before the child's death. This child's death was a tragedy but we depend on the community, people who knew that family to report any problems to us so that we could take action," said John Harrell with DCF. "Regarding the 2008 reports, there was a case plan and the judge decided to close the case plan. That decision was made by a Judge in Putnam County. The mother had made significant progress in her efforts in that case plan."
Jessica Rivera, 30, pleaded not guilty in July to child neglect. Rivera's charges have since been upgraded and bail set at $100,000.
Jacksonville police said Bones died of malnutrition six days after being found in her home. Doctors said she was covered in lice and had core temperatures that were 15 degrees lower than normal.
Prosecutors said Bones autopsy revealed that she died of natural causes, but had many medical complications. Police said Rivera admitted that she hadn't cared for her daughter.
Rivera's three other children, ages 5, 7 and 8, were removed from the home and placed in the custody of other family members, according to the Department of Children and Families.
DCF said it's meeting with the children at least once a month and has arranged counseling services for them.