Attorney general investigating teen's death in county facility
http://www.kctv5.com/story/17040278/attorney-general-investigating-teens-death-in-county-facility
KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -
The Missouri Attorney General's Office is now investigating how 16-year-old Kathia Casseus died while in the care of Jackson County Juvenile Detention officials.
The Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy Tuesday, but determining a cause of death could take up to six weeks.
Kathia was arrested and placed in the detention center earlier this month after she took her mother's vehicle on a joyride.
-------
The 16-year-old girl died at Children's Mercy Hospital after collapsing inside the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Center. She had repeatedly and vocally complained of feeling unwell and was left alone for up to two hours before she was discovered as being unresponsive, according to authorities.
Her devastated family has retained attorneys and is desperately searching for answers.
"We are pushing through and just hoping to get some answers," said Kathia's sister, Cynthia Laguerre.
She said Kathia wanted to become a professional dancer.
"She just loved to dance," Laguerre said. "She was the friendly one. I was the quiet one."
Kathia's family was unable to get answers Saturday and is still being thwarted.
Brian Costello, an attorney for Kathia's family, emphasized that Kathia was not detained because of a violent crime.
"It was misbehavior," he said. "Regardless, she was in the custody of the county and the state and was gravely let down."
-------
Lexington attorney Daniel T. DeFeo believes other teens witnessed what happened to Kathia. Because they are juveniles, their identities are cloaked. DeFeo is making a public plea for information.
"If friends and family of juveniles are out there that may have witnessed what happened to her, they certainly have the right to reach out and help this family get answers," DeFeo said.
If you have any details about Kathia's death, you are asked to call the DeFeo Law firm at 660-259-9806.........
