Grandparents Call On Governor To Overhaul CPS After Granddaughter's Death
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MANSFIELD (CBSDFW.COM) - It's hard to imagine much more tragic than the death of a four-year-old, but Alisa Clakley said she can. She's said what's worse is a death of a child that was preventable.
Clakley's granddaughter, Leiliana Wright, died last month from "blunt force trauma."
The girl's mother, Jeri Quezada, was arrested and charged with injury to a child in her death.
According to investigators, Quezada said she and her boyfriend hit Leiliana with a belt and bamboo stick, tied her up in a closet, and threw her.
"The fact that it could have been preventable makes me sick," said Clakley.
Sunday evening, dozens lit candles at a vigil in Mansfield to shine light on what the Clakley said is a broken system.
The Clakleys said they warned CPS months prior to their granddaughter's death that she was in danger
They are now they are warning others about what happens when people don't listen.
Leiliana's grandfather, Craig Clakley, said, "The bruises were seen by other people who didn't care. This could have been reported. They could have brought the child to us."
Since the death of Leiliana, two CPS employees have been fired and another has resigned
Clakley said that's not enough.
"This can't happen anymore. This is Texas," he said. "Governor Abbott needs to do something. I know he has a lot of things and this is a big state to take care of but losing one child is one child too many to lose."
Governor Abbott responded on Twitter to a question sent him about his plans to fix CPS and the foster system.
He responded with one word – "Overhaul."
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