Gov. Jim Justice Walks Back Comments on CPS Awareness in Tragic Child Welfare Case

Gov. Jim Justice Admits CPS Was Aware of Girl Found Dead in Boone County Home

In a shocking turn of events, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has backtracked on his previous statement that Child Protective Services (CPS) was not aware of a 14-year-old girl who was found dead in a skeletal state in her Boone County home last month.

During a virtual press briefing, Justice admitted that there were attorneys within the West Virginia Department of Human Resources who had mishandled the information regarding the girl, Kyneddi Miller. He expressed frustration with the lack of communication and the need to act on the information provided by these attorneys.

The Department of Human Services (DoHS), formerly known as DHHR, has come under fire for its failure to provide information on whether CPS had prior knowledge of Kyneddi Miller before her tragic death on April 17th. Despite citing child privacy laws as a reason for not disclosing information, state lawmakers have grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of transparency surrounding the state’s troubled child welfare system and CPS shortcomings.

Governor Justice, who had previously stated that CPS was not aware of the girl before her death, has now admitted that he was misinformed. He emphasized that he does not dodge questions and that he stands behind the information he knows today.

Requests for information regarding CPS referrals and travel records related to the deceased child have been denied by DoHS, citing state and federal child privacy laws. The department is currently facing a class-action lawsuit filed in 2019, alleging mistreatment of foster children and overburdening of CPS workers.

CPS has also faced criticism for its slow response to allegations of child abuse and neglect. DoHS Cabinet Secretary Cynthia Persily has stated that the department is reviewing other states’ laws that allow for the public disclosure of information following a child’s death due to abuse or neglect.

Lawmakers have expressed concerns about the timeliness and adequacy of information provided in DoHS’s annual Critical Incident Report, calling for more transparency and accountability in the state’s child welfare system. As the investigation into Kyneddi Miller’s death continues, the spotlight remains on the need for reform and improved communication within West Virginia’s child protective services.