A woman found in her home with the decomposing bodies of her four daughters was suspected by a social worker of holding one of the girls hostage as early as April, city officials said Friday.
An investigation into the family was closed because child and family welfare officials thought the family had moved to Maryland � even though authorities there couldn't locate the family.
�It's completely unclear why they made that determination,� said Carrie Brooks, spokeswoman for Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. The city is continuing to investigate.
It is sometimes the case that real victims of abuse are not followed through with very well by welfare agencies and on the other hand, the authorities go overboard in cases where no real abuse is occurring. The key is to be able to tell the difference and follow through in real abuse cases and back off in those cases where a child is not in danger.
Update: Here is more on the case.