COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The estate of a 2-year-old girl who died while in foster care in El Paso County is suing the county, alleging social workers ignored warning signs of abuse.
Alize Vick died Saturday, a day after suffering what a neurosurgeon described as a “violent blow to the head.” Her foster mother, Jules Lynn Cuneo, was later arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and felony child abuse.
In a lawsuit filed in federal court on Friday, the estate’s representative, Mark Elliott alleges that El Paso County’s Department of Human Services and a private child placement agency created “a special zone of danger” by ignoring warning signs and left her vulnerable to abuse.
The suit said one of the signs was an anonymous letter and tape recording made by a neighbor. The El Paso County sheriff’s office has said a neighbor complained about possible abuse in May after picking up sounds from Cuneo’s home on her baby monitor.
The county’s Department of Human Services declined comment on the lawsuit itself.
“The department is deeply saddened by the death of Alize Vick,” DHS spokeswoman Jennifer Brown said. “Since this is a case currently in the courts we are not able to comment about the case, but the safety of children is always our number one priority.
The suit seeks unspecified damages.
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Includes information from: The Gazette,
