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HAMILTON — A California detective who exposed a sex abuse cover up by Butler County Children Services Board in 2000 now has scrutinized the agency again in the wake of the death of 3-year-old Marcus Feisel.

San Diego County Det. Victorian Reden was contracted to conduct a week-long review of the agency in October. Her two dozen recommendations for a seven-member task force to consider in reforming the CSB were released Tuesday.

However, it was one of Reden's recommendations that she said would have saved Marcus Fiesel's life. Had Ohio law enforcement agencies been reporting domestic violence incidents — regardless of an arrest — to Children Services, caseworkers would have known about a June 22 domestic violence incident between Liz and David Carroll Jr. that occurred weeks before authorities discovered the former Middletown developmentally disabled boy was dead, according to her report.

"Had the officers that responded to the Carrolls' home filed a report with BCCSB, Marcus would have been immediately removed from their care," Reden wrote.

CSB ombudsman Bill Morrison, who sits on the task force, drew the same conclusion in August and said Tuesday he stands by it "100 percent." Morrison said Reden's recommendations should be seriously considered, but they may require changes at the state and possibly federal levels. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services' recommendations are due out next week.

CSB Executive Director Jann Heffner declined to comment on the report, having not read it.

Though Reden saw the agency had made significant strides over the past six years, she described a passive and closed agency that commonly did not explain its actions to parents or ensure their legal representation. She suggested all records in the case file, including medical information, be released to parties to the case.

"How can a parent be expected to comply with and modify behavior that precipitated the removal of their children if they are not allowed access to all the records?" Reden wrote. "No agency should be able to hide behind confidentiality issues."

Paul Smith of Hamilton agreed. When his 2-year-old and newborn sons were removed, he was questioned without an attorney and there was little explanation for the allegations.

"They seek, destroy and come back and ask questions later," said Smith, 48. "What they say in the handbook they pass out, they ought to honor that."

Butler County Commissioner Michael Fox said such closed policies only benefit the system, not families or children.

Reden's other suggestions include:

• Recording all interviews to create an indisputable record;

• Conducting comprehensive, rather than state-limited, background checks for all in contact with a child as recommended in 2000;

• Establishing procedures for interviewing children that reduce trauma and require only one interview for all necessary agencies;

• Adopting an active investigative approach to aggressively seek out information;

• Making the ombudsman truly independent under the county commissioners' direction, rather than the agency executive director;

• Ensuring all parties, including case workers, are present at court proceedings;

• Encouraging feedback from those who have had contact with the agency through a case review system;

• Conducting independent, direct interviews with foster children as an extra layer of protection for children;

• Developing a partner agency advisory board to improve cooperation;

• Expanding hours to conduct evening and weekend inspections;

• Increasing family preservation efforts.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or cbrooks@coxohio.com

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