A former foster couple in Aberdeen says they are reeling after learning that the 4-year-old boy discovered buried in a family member’s yard was the child they once tucked in at night. Gary and Magali Lopez say they cared for Aiden Scott Bevins from about ages 1 to 3, and now describe their world as “shattered” as Aberdeen police and the Grays Harbor coroner confirm there is an active child-death investigation.
Foster parents speak out
Speaking with KING 5, the Lopezes said they repeatedly tried to sound the alarm while Aiden was in their care. They told the station they contacted the Department of Children, Youth and Families at least three times, worried about what they saw when the boy returned from visits.
According to their account, Aiden often came back dirty, not eating enough and in situations they considered unsafe. “To see his face in the news... just shattered our world,” Magali Lopez told the station. Her husband, Gary, said the discovery was “something that we had been dreading.”
KING 5 reports that relatives and investigators were ultimately led to the child’s remains. As of the latest reporting, no arrests have been announced while detectives continue to investigate the death.
Police confirm investigation
The Aberdeen Police Department has acknowledged it is investigating the death of a 4-year-old child but has kept public details tight as the case unfolds, according to Grays Harbor Scanner. The outlet quotes police as saying, “The Aberdeen Police Department is currently investigating the death of a 4-year-old child. Detectives are diligently working this case,” and notes that investigators plan to release more information as they are able.
Family members told local reporters they had grown concerned after not seeing Aiden for some time, a worry that only deepened as word spread of the remains found in the yard.
Couple says they warned CPS
The Lopezes say their concerns were not quiet ones. They told KING 5 they repeatedly pressed child-protective authorities to check on Aiden’s safety before he disappeared from their lives.
When reporters asked the state’s child-welfare agency for comment, the Department of Children, Youth and Families said it could not discuss the matter because it is part of an ongoing investigation, according to KING 5.
Policy backdrop in Washington
This case lands in the middle of a broader fight over how Washington handles child welfare. State lawmakers and local editorial boards have been scrutinizing recent trends in child fatalities and near-fatalities, questioning whether current policies are keeping kids safe.
The Department of Children, Youth & Families details the Keeping Families Together Act and how it is being implemented on its website, and critics argue that a 2023 change to removal standards has made decisions about when to take children into care more complicated. For background on that debate, see DCYF and commentary in The Seattle Times.
What’s next
Detectives say the investigation into Aiden’s death remains active and that information will be released as appropriate. Local reporting indicates the Grays Harbor coroner has confirmed the child’s death.
Authorities have not announced any arrests. Investigators continue to gather information and say they will update the public when there are developments, according to local coverage by Go Grays Harbor.
