A mother has claimed that the city’s Department of Children’s Services took her mentally troubled but physically healthy teenage daughter, which she believes contributed to the girl’s tragic death by suicide from the Brooklyn Bridge. The incident occurred after Jade Smith, just 13, struggled with hallucinations and suicidal thoughts for years before being taken into custody for approximately four and a half months, during which she was moved among foster homes, according to her family’s lawsuit.
Jade took her life in January 2023.
“They made everything worse,” her mother, Terry Nimmo, stated publicly for the first time. “She should be here, but she’s not. It’s ACS’s fault. Their actions led to my daughter’s death.”
Her accusations arise amid heightened scrutiny of the authorities for their handling of a disturbing case in the Bronx, where neighbors alleged that a mother had starved her teenage twins and kept them confined in their home for years without intervention.
Terry described Jade, the oldest of three children, as a “funny, creative girl.” She enjoyed watching anime, reading graphic novels, and was actively involved in her school’s debate team.
“My child was more than a diagnosis,” she emphasized.
At just nine years old, Jade attempted suicide by hanging herself in her bedroom, according to court records. “It was horrifying to watch my baby go through something so terrible,” Nimmo said, who also has an 11-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter with her husband.
“It was something I couldn’t fix, and it’s really hard for any mother to see her child in pain,” she added, noting the extensive help Jade received through various treatments, therapy, and medication.
“But that wasn’t enough,” she admitted. “We had to continually go back in time to understand what was really happening.”
Amidst this turmoil, Nimmo was pursuing education to become a medical technician, while her husband worked late shifts in security. “We were trying to improve our lives,” she recalled, mentioning that they had high hopes for a family admissions program at her workplace that could help them cope with their struggles.
However, those plans were abruptly halted due to the involvement of the ACS.
In July 2022, Jade confided in her mother about someone entering her room and assaulting her at night, naming her husband as the perpetrator. Upon reporting these allegations, the family contended that this could not have been possible given his work schedule, but a judge eventually cleared him of any misconduct.
Nimmo recounted her confusion and panic when ACS intervened, stating, “I thought I was at the wrong house.” They took all her children and threatened jail time if she didn’t comply with their demands, leaving her terrified.
After gaining custody of Jade in September 2022, ACS was criticized for their failure to adequately monitor her well-being, as outlined in the family’s complaint. They neglected to contact her healthcare providers and overlooked several troubling episodes where Jade managed to escape from a nursing home, during which she seemed to have been sexually assaulted.
“We knew she’d struggle without the stability of our home,” her mother said, expressing frustration that her concerns went unaddressed by caseworkers.
Ultimately, Jade ran away for the last time and her body was found on January 16, 2023, along the East River near Fulton Ferry Landing Pier.
“The government should have policies in place to protect children like Jade,” the grieving mother noted. “They claim to be there for families, yet how can they help when they ignore issues?”
She also pointed out that ACS seemed to have predetermined the narrative about their family rather than truly investigating their circumstances, leading to her daughter’s devastating loss.
When asked what changes she would like to see in the city’s child care system, Nimmo did not hesitate: “Everything.”
“I find it unimaginable that someone can take that job and treat people as our family was treated,” she added, expressing her strong belief that Jade’s death was “completely preventable,” according to attorney Julia Elmaleh Sachs, who represents the family in their lawsuit against the city and ACS, seeking unspecified damages. “For far too long, ACS has abused its power, traumatizing the very families it claims to protect.”
Following Jade’s suicide, ACS reportedly reacted in panic, launching an investigation into the family that included several late-night visits, though ultimately, a family court judge dismissed the case.
In an unusual moment, an ACS employee inquired about Jade’s whereabouts, clearly unaware of her passing.
Documented accounts reveal that Terry and Richard lost their jobs and faced significant hardship due to their family’s grief and the incessant demands from ACS, which occupied what felt like their full-time focus.
The family eventually ended up in a shelter.
Three years later, while they have transitioned out, Nimmo expressed that the impact of their ordeal has left a lasting mark. “We are far away from our previous neighborhood and the change has been really difficult, especially for our son. He misses his friends and neighborhood… he hardly smiles anymore,” she reflected.
An ACS spokesperson acknowledged the tragedy, extending condolences, stating, “Her death is a heartbreaking tragedy.”
If anyone in New York City is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, they can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for confidential support. Those outside the city can reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
