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Report on fatal fire to be released

DCF won't appeal a court order to release a grand jury report in the death of a 2-year-old boy.

By RAGHURAM VADAREVU
Published April 8, 2005

The state Department of Children and Families has decided not to appeal a court decision that ordered the release of a grand jury report in the case of a Crystal River woman indicted in the 2003 death of her youngest son.

"We don't plan to appeal it," Al Zimmerman, spokesman for DCF District 13, which includes Citrus, Hernando, Marion, Lake and Sumter counties, said Thursday.

DCF officials had until 5 p.m. Friday to file their appeal of last month's appellate court ruling that ordered the report's release, said Ric Ridgway, chief assistant state attorney for the 5th Judicial District.

With DCF's decision, the report is expected to be made public Monday.

Johnathan Squires, nearly 2 years old, died Sept. 4, 2003, in a Crystal River apartment fire. One of his brothers, who was almost 5, started the blaze.

In March 2004, a grand jury indicted Carol Verniece Squires, 25, on charges of manslaughter and child neglect with great bodily harm or disfigurement.

The grand jury reconvened in May 2004 and issued a report - also known as a presentment - that sums up the panel's investigation. A presentment can include accusations and details of the crimes allegedly committed.

A presentment typically becomes public record 15 days after it is written. DCF asked Circuit Judge Ric Howard to delay release until information about the toddler's two brothers was shielded.

Howard denied the department's request to have parts of the report expunged, and the agency filed an appeal with the 5th District Court of Appeal. A three-judge panel from that court upheld Howard's ruling.

"The only reason why we wanted to prevent (the report's) release was to protect the identities of the children," DCF's Zimmerman said. "We never had anything to hide. We just wanted to protect their identities."

The state agreed to replace the names of any minor children mentioned with the children's initials to protect their identities, according to the appeals court. Zimmerman said, "I don't think there are any surprises."

DCF's handling of complaints involving the Squires family had come under scrutiny after Johnathan Squires' death. The case led to the firing of Hiram Agosto, the investigator who looked into the Squires' complaints, and his supervisor was reprimanded. The department received three neglect reports in connection with the family, and Agosto discovered the oldest boy had a pattern of setting fires. But Agosto found no pattern of neglect and closed the case without getting services for the family.

Authorities say Johnathan's oldest brother set the fire while Carol Squires was out getting coffee. Two other adults were in the apartment at the time of the fire. They saved Johnathan's two older brothers, but they say they didn't know Johnathan was in the apartment, too.

When Carol Squires returned to her apartment, she tried to save her youngest son, but it was too late. Squires has pleaded not guilty. Trial is set for May 2.

[Last modified April 8, 2005, 00:33:18]