Report Faults Pope County Child Protection In Boy’s Death

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A state report says Pope County child protection workers broke the law and missed numerous chances to intervene before a 4-year-old boy was killed by his stepmother in 2013.

A report from a child mortality panel Friday details failures not only by the western Minnesota county, but also by the state for endorsing practices that ultimately failed Eric Dean.

The panel recommends the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Legislature implement significant reforms, including mandating an investigation when any child under age 6 is abused.

The county's human services director, Nicole Names, says her agency has already begun making improvements similar to what the panel recommended.

In the wake of Eric's death, Gov. Mark Dayton ordered greater state scrutiny of the child protection system.