A 16-year-old girl, under the supervision of the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS), was found dead at a Baltimore City hotel on Monday. The hotel employee discovered the child, and the Baltimore Police received the call just before 11:15 a.m. to respond to 800 N. Wolfe Street. The address corresponds to The Residence Inn by Marriott Baltimore at The Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, according to FOX Baltimore.
The Department has come under fire, especially after a recent state audit revealed severe gaps in its foster care system. Lilly Price, the press secretary for DHS, stated, "The Maryland Department of Human Services joins the community in grieving this heartbreaking tragedy." Price continued, elaborating on DHS's commitment to children's safety, "The well-being of Maryland’s children is our top priority, and we will not rest until every child in our state is safe, thriving in a permanent home, and surrounded by loving family." Nevertheless, the case is currently listed as questionable, with no apparent signs of foul play or trauma found on the girl's body, according to a FOX Baltimore report.
On the heels of the incident, Republican State lawmakers have expressed outrage and concern for the DHS's ability to ensure the safety of children in its care. Maryland's House Minority Leader Jason Buckel described the situation as "as tragic as it is outrageous," in a statement, detailed by WMAR2 News. The death of the minor comes shortly after the DHS audit, which, according to Buckel, indicates a continuing pattern of departmental failures.
The medical examiner's office is set to perform an autopsy to determine the official cause of death.
