Lawsuit blames DHS for death of 4-year-old abuse victim
(PORTLAND TRIBUNE) -- A new $23 million lawsuit says the Oregon Department of Human Services failed to respond to reports that a Portland man was abusing his 4-year-old son, just weeks before the boy died.
Jhorden Clay died May 3, 2023, after emergency medical personnel responded to his father’s home on reports that the boy was seizing and not breathing.
The child died in a hospital operating room from blunt force trauma to his abdomen. He had bruising and injuries “from head to toe,” including a liver laceration and signs of strangulation. He was severely malnourished and had numerous scars.
His father, Marquavious Ware, has been charged with murder.
Jhorden Clay had been staying with his father for nearly a month at the time of his death. Ware had taken his son on April 7 for what was supposed to be a two-day visit, but refused to return his son to the mother.
He only allowed the mother, Jonicia Clay, to see her son over Facetime.
Read more at PortlandTribune.com
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