Pennsylvania government watchdog to probe teen’s murder
Posted April 17, 2019 4:14 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania state government watchdog agency is launching an investigation into the horrific case of a 14-year-old girl who had extensive contact with the child welfare system before her 2016 rape, torture and murder.
The Office of State Inspector General said Wednesday it will look into whether the Department of Human Services acted properly in its handling of the Grace Packer case. The chairmen of the House Judiciary and Children and Youth committees had requested the probe.
Grace endured years of abuse before her death outside Philadelphia. An internal DHS probe has already found that child welfare agencies missed numerous red flags.
A jury sentenced a man to death for raping and strangling the teenager. Grace’s adoptive mother pleaded guilty to murder for her role in Grace’s killing and was sentenced to life.
The Associated Press
