Second newborn seized from family still seeking answers following baby’s death in care

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This article was published 28/05/2015 (4097 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The family of a baby who died last year while in the custody of Child and Family Services wants answers after CFS seized a second newborn from them this weekend.

Carlos Burgos and Johandre Herrera say CFS workers, accompanied by police, came to the Brandon residence of their mother to tell their sister, Maria Herrera, they had taken custody of her four-day old son Samuel in hospital.

Burgos, Herrera, and Tory MLA Ian Wishart are now looking for answers from Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin Ross.

“It’s unbelievable,” Herrera said today after the issue was raised during question period at the Manitoba Legislature. “We don’t know why they are doing this.”

Burgos said CFS is refusing to let his sister see Samuel or even allow her to deliver pumped breast milk.

“This is harassment. Let us know what’s going on. We’re in Canada,” he said.

Another of Maria’s sons, Matias, was seized by CFS last year a few days after his birth on Feb. 24, 2014. He died in CFS custody a month later. 

Matias was being driven to his foster home by a CFS worker, but when the worker went to take him out of the car he was blue. The cause of death was undetermined but a autopsy report said blankets may have suffocated him or caused him to overheat.

“We don’t even know why Matias was apprehended and now this,” he said. “They claim confidentiality and now there is another one. What’s going on?

“We don’t want what happened to Matias to happen again.”

The family says they are meeting with CFS officials on Friday.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca