Sep 17, 2007 7:27 pm US/Central
Mother, Stepfather Deny Guilt In Daughter's Death
DCFS Acknowledges Past Evidence Of Abuse
by Dorothy Tucker
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
-
-
Shavon Miles, 13, was beaten to death in her Southwest Side home. Her mother and stepfather are charged with her murder.
CBS
Parents accused of murdering their 13-year-old daughter pleaded not guilty in court Monday.
CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports, the victim's biological father and other relatives are angry at DCFS for ignoring numerous calls that something heinous was happening in the family's home.
Shavon Miles was allegedly beaten to death inside the Southwest Side house. She lived there with her mother, Lynnesia Hiles-Sloan, and her stepfather, Gabriel Sloan. According to his relatives, each of the parents accuses the other.
"I don't know. It doesn't make any sense to me. None of it," said Carolyn Sloan, Hiles-Sloan's mother.
"I'm kind of furious. It's hard to believe they did this to her," said Marcus Miles, the girl's biological father. He hasn't lived with his daughter or her twin brother since they were infants, but he says he's been fighting for custody since 2005, when he and his family first saw signs Shavon was the victim of abuse.
"I noticed that her body weight was thin. She was dark the way she acted, withdrawn. I knew something was wrong that's when I called DCFS," Miles said.
He wasn't the only one calling. Counselors at McKay Elementary School, where Shavon was in school, and doctors also complained.
DCFS officials do "acknowledged evidence of abuse in 1994, 2006 and 2007". They say they are saddened by Shavon's death and have launched a full investigation.
Shavon's twin brother is staying with her stepfather's relatives. The Sloans are due back in court next month.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
