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New details emerge about College Hill mom accused of decapitating infant
Hamilton County Job and Services saw baby 3 times prior to her death
On Wednesday, prosecutors confirmed for WLWT News 5 Hamilton County Job and Family Services either went to the house or saw Jayniah Watkins at least three times between March 6 and before the disturbing death March 16.“Look, lady, I don't want to describe the scene. This experience is very, very bad, alright? The little baby's head is open,” said a 911 caller from the home of the baby’s great aunt. Investigators said it's the place where Deasia Watkins decapitated her 3-month-old Jayniah Watkins.Watch this storyWatkins' aunt, the baby's great aunt, had custody.Hamilton County Job and Family Services got involved when the baby's mother was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis.Many people are asking how Watkins was able to get to the baby. WLWT asked prosecutors, and they said social workers were at the home as recently as March 12 and Watkins wasn't there during the visit.Hamilton County Job and Family Services saw the child at their headquarters on March 13. The baby was stabbed and killed March 16.Prosecutors said Watkins had been staying with the aunt for about a week.Hamilton County Job and Family Services cannot comment about this case specifically, but officials said social workers go through an extensive process placing a child in protective care.Among the biggest factors are domestic violence, substance abuse and untreated mental illness.“Our role is really to work with family first to see if we can keep children safe within their family environment or the home environment. We're always assessing, basically, where's the risk factor, what’s the present danger,” Moira Weir, with Hamilton County Job and Family Services.Officials said their goal is to work with families to keep children in the families network if the child is not in danger because children thrive in thrive better in an environment where they know someone.“We have to make sure that whatever caused us to remove the child, so whatever the safety threats are, or whatever we determined to be the issue , we have to see demonstrated change in the person that was causing the safety threat,” said Weir.WLWT spoke with the aunt in this case and she declined to give her side of the story, saying if she commented it would make things worse.Prosecutors have not decided if the aunt will face charges. On Tuesday, prosecutors said they may need her as a potential witness.Deasia Watkins is at Deaconess Hospital being evaluated for mental health issues.
CINCINNATI —
On Wednesday, prosecutors confirmed for WLWT News 5 Hamilton County Job and Family Services either went to the house or saw Jayniah Watkins at least three times between March 6 and before the disturbing death March 16.
“Look, lady, I don't want to describe the scene. This experience is very, very bad, alright? The little baby's head is open,” said a 911 caller from the home of the baby’s great aunt. Investigators said it's the place where Deasia Watkins decapitated her 3-month-old Jayniah Watkins.
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Watch this story
Watkins' aunt, the baby's great aunt, had custody.
Hamilton County Job and Family Services got involved when the baby's mother was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis.
Many people are asking how Watkins was able to get to the baby. WLWT asked prosecutors, and they said social workers were at the home as recently as March 12 and Watkins wasn't there during the visit.
Hamilton County Job and Family Services saw the child at their headquarters on March 13. The baby was stabbed and killed March 16.
Prosecutors said Watkins had been staying with the aunt for about a week.
Hamilton County Job and Family Services cannot comment about this case specifically, but officials said social workers go through an extensive process placing a child in protective care.
Among the biggest factors are domestic violence, substance abuse and untreated mental illness.
“Our role is really to work with family first to see if we can keep children safe within their family environment or the home environment. We're always assessing, basically, where's the risk factor, what’s the present danger,” Moira Weir, with Hamilton County Job and Family Services.
Officials said their goal is to work with families to keep children in the families network if the child is not in danger because children thrive in thrive better in an environment where they know someone.
“We have to make sure that whatever caused us to remove the child, so whatever the safety threats are, or whatever we determined to be the issue , we have to see demonstrated change in the person that was causing the safety threat,” said Weir.
WLWT spoke with the aunt in this case and she declined to give her side of the story, saying if she commented it would make things worse.
Prosecutors have not decided if the aunt will face charges. On Tuesday, prosecutors said they may need her as a potential witness.
Deasia Watkins is at Deaconess Hospital being evaluated for mental health issues.
