RELEASE: January 6, 2003

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New Jersey Department of Human Services Commissioner Gwendolyn L. Harris said today the department has begun an aggressive and far reaching investigation into the handling of the case of seven-year-old Faheem Williams who was discovered dead, and his brothers, who were found neglected in a home in Newark on January 5.

"This is a heartbreaking case where one young child died and two others were severely neglected," said Commissioner Harris. "We have just begun our investigation, and from our preliminary review it appears that there may have been major problems in the handling of the case. The family was known to the department for 10 years. There were indications that this was a family in trouble and the children were at risk. Clearly, something in the system failed."

Harris said the department will examine the case to determine the extent to which agency policy and good casework practice were followed.

"We will take whatever measures required to correct or improve our system," she said.

Newark police were summoned to 188 Parker St in Newark on January 4^th and found two malnourished children, Raheem Williams, age 7, and his sibling Tyrone Hill, age 4. Upon further investigation it was learned that the children had two other siblings, Faheem Williams, the twin brother of Raheem who was found dead, and an 11-year-old brother, who does not live with his siblings.

All four are the children of Melinda Williams. The children were being cared for Williams' cousin, Sherry Murphy.

The department's Division of Youth and Family Services received 10 referrals on the family dating back to 1992.

Under the Comprehensive Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, certain elements of the department's history with a family can be disclosed. A summary of the division's involvement is attached.