Tragic Child Death Sparks Outrage in New Mexico

The unfortunate passing of yet another child in New Mexico has led child advocates to hold the governor and child safety agencies accountable, pointing out that they had been alerted about potential dangers.

Vanessa Chavez faces charges of child abuse following the death of her 18-month-old daughter, who reportedly failed to respond and died after 20 minutes of CPR efforts by police in Albuquerque. This incident marks the sixth child-related death within just four months linked to the state’s children, youth, and family department.

“This is on the governor. At this point, the governor has blood on her hands,” said Malalyn Beck, founder of New Mexico’s First Network of Children. She emphasized that these deaths were preventable and put the blame squarely on the governor and the Child Safety Agency.

Chavez’s daughter had been taken from her at birth due to being born prematurely and exposure to drugs, but was eventually returned to her care during a trial period before her tragic passing.

“One call to child protection services in a functioning system should suffice to save lives,” Beck expressed with visible emotion. “We just don’t have that kind of system.”

Criticism toward Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham was reiterated by Beck, who insisted that even as Grisham approaches the end of her term, she seems to be prioritizing other matters as issues mount within the agency.

“We’re just chasing our tails. This has been going on for decades,” she remarked. When asked if she anticipates making any progress within her remaining 18 months, Grisham responded, “Yes, we’re going to make some important advancements.”

The governor’s office released a statement asserting that Grisham is actively addressing systemic flaws to protect New Mexico’s vulnerable children. A recent announcement was made regarding a significant reform aimed at better safeguarding infants born to parents with substance use issues.

The Child, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) also spoke on the matter, mentioning that two of the three children belonging to Greg Montoya and Vanessa Chavez had previously entered CYFD custody. They noted that attorneys for the couple requested to dismiss the abuse and neglect cases, as they were addressing a unified court order plan. This request was supported by social workers and family court judges.

“The death of this child represents an unbearable tragedy. CYFD extends its deepest condolences to everyone impacted by this loss,” the agency stated.

Beck believes that more absolute measures are necessary to avert such a tragedy from happening again. “If this isn’t a public health crisis, it’s certainly a moral health crisis,” she declared.