Crime Time

Cleburne boy, 4, suffered abuse, PTSD, documents say

Where did the end begin for Buddy Cook?

The 4-year-old boy died a week ago at his Cleburne home, possibly from dehydration and malnutrition, according to documents filed by Child Protective Services.

His adoptive parents told CPS that he was born of an incestuous relationship. They said he was sexually abused by his biological mother and several men.

The boy also was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, reactive attachment disorder and a sexually transmitted disease.

Deanna Boyd reports.

— Bill Miller

Cleburne girl in 'good condition' after being accidentally shot Friday

The father of a 5-year-old Cleburne girl was loading a new handgun Friday, but a round was accidentally fired, striking her in the abdomen.

The child, however, was in good condition Tuesday at a Fort Worth hospital.

Meanwhile police and prosecutors see no criminal intent and won't bring charges against the father, a police spokeswoman said.

However, Child Protective Services is conducting an investigation.

Bill Miller reports.

 

Update: CPS officials on leave during probe of baby's death in Abilene

State Child Protective Services officials have placed a regional director, a supervisor and a caseworker on leave in the wake of a 22-month-old Abilene girl's death.

In memos to the three, top CPS officials tell the three that they're on "emergency leave" pending the results of an Abilene police investigation of Tamryn Klapheke's death.

Police are investigating three CPS supervisors for possibly withholding or tampering with evidence in connection with its investigation into Tamryn Klapheke's death. Documents were seized when police carried out a search warrant Tuesday, but no charges have been filed.

Earlier this week, Crime Time linked to other stories about how the baby's mother, Tiffany Nicole Klapheke (shown here), faces three felony charges of injury to child in her Aug. 28 death. After her arrest, she claimed she was too stressed by her husband's deployment to care for their three young children.

In a related matter, the Air Force has charged an airman at an Abilene air base with adultery, child endangerment and failure to report child abuse in relation to Tiffany Klapheke. The man, Christopher Perez, is not the woman's husband.

Reports by The AP and The Abilene Reporter-News.

 

Reversal: CPS under investigation in Abilene

Usually the state agency Child Protective Services appears in news articles as investigators of child abuse.

But police in Abilene say they've executed search warrants at the local CPS office and a supervisor's home and car.

The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the police searches come after the death of a 22-month-old girl whose mother claimed her military husband's deployment overseas left her too stressed to care for their three children.

Abilene Police Chief Stan Standridge said police began a rare investigation of CPS after "a refusal of certain CPS supervisors to cooperate" with officers looking into the death of Tamryn Klapheke.

Agency spokesman Patrick Crimmins said a caseworker assigned to investigate allegations of medical neglect against Tiffany Nicole Klapheke closed the case soon after being promoted to supervisor. In doing so, she violated agency guidelines that require a final face-to-face visit, he said.

Read the entire AP report here.