DCF Documents Reveal Troubled Family

Newly released documents reveal troubling details about a family's repeated run-in's with child welfare investigators.  After the death of 7-month old De'Adrian Wilson in a Delray Beach apartment fire May 4th, the state Department of Children and Families told CBS 12, it had looked into the baby's family before.

 Baby De'Adrian died of smoke inhalation.  No adults were at home at the time of the fire; only seven other children, the oldest age 16.  Police filed no criminal charges, but DCF is still investigating.

 DCF took the unusual step of asking a judge to allow them to release documents about their previous investigations into De'Adrian's mother, Nicole Heath.  On Friday in West Palm Beach, Judge Edward Fine granted the department's request.  DCF then released the documents. I n them, we learn DCF investigators had targeted Heath and her family, 12 times prior to the apartment fire.

 In 1999, Heath lost another baby, a 2-month old who suffocated on a plastic bag left in bed.  DCF found some neglect in this case.

 The next year, the documents show DCF checked out a report Heath's 7-year old had never attended school.  This time there were no findings of abuse.

 Again in 2000, DCF responded to a report Heath was using and selling drugs in the home, and that there were fights and a stabbing in the home.  DCF determined there was some evidence of a substance exposed child and inadequate supervision.  Heath's children were placed with relatives.

 The list goes on through 2007.  In that year the father of one of Heath's children was arrested for possession of marijuana while a daughter was in his car.  DCF found some threat of harm.

 Then this month, at the time of the fatal fire, the reports indicate Heath had two small children in her care.

 DCF spokeswoman Leslie Mann told CBS 12, "We are not in a position to monitor families for their entire life, if we feel that they have completed the tasks that we've put in place."  Mann acknowledged releasing the documents could leave her agency open to second guessing.  But Mann said the public has the right to evaluate the department's actions.

 Nicole Heath did not attend Friday's court hearing.  As DCF continues to investigate the apartment fire, the agency says so far none of Heath's children are in state custody.