Death of Foster Child Blamed on Fatal Child Abuse

Authorities have set down the death of a four year-old girl at her Brooklyn foster as another case of fatal child abuse. Caprice Reid was allegedly starved and beaten to death by her 26 year-old foster mother Patrice Coker and her 49 year-old grandmother Betty Coker. Police say the death was a homicide caused by a "fatal child abuse syndrome," including dehydration, malnutrition, multiple blunt impact injuries to the head and extremities. Prosecutors believe the grandmother tied the girl to the chair and beat her with a stick while the mother watched. An investigation is underway into why Little Flower Children's Services, the foster care agency that placed the girl with the Cokers, did not remove her sooner. The mother and grandmother have already been accused of assault and endangering the welfare of a child, charges that could be upgraded pending the medical examiner's opinion.

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