The Misery Machine - The Case of Kei'Mani Latigue

Starting point is 00:00:00 Khamani Latig was born on March 28, 2011 to parents Darnell O'Weltri Jones and Tiara Kastin. At the time of our story, she lived with her grandmother Dorothy in Toledo, Ohio. Her mother and father had separate lives, but she visited them occasionally. Darnal lived on Willard Street and dated a woman named Nina Turner and the two had a child together, Khamani's half-sister. There isn't much we know about Kimani's mother, Tiyara, at least what's verifiable. What we do know is she has to be. has other children aside from Kimani and that she lives in the Cleveland area.

Starting point is 00:00:35 It hasn't been reported why neither she nor Darnell had custody of Kimani as Dorothy was not officially her legal guardian until 2024. Prior to that, Kimani lived with her mother's godmother before she was even a year old. Himani started living with Dorothy between roughly 2019 and 2020, while the godmother still provided for Kimani when needed. Kimani transferred schools multiple times and had a hard time settling in allegedly because of behavioral issues. In 2024, she was a seventh grader at Spring Elementary, where she was excelling. She was an honor roll student who was recognized by her peers for her kindness.

Starting point is 00:01:14 In fact, she was supposed to receive a kindness award in late March. She liked listening to older music and playing video games and sports such as basketball and football. On the screen, you'll see her playing a Ms. Pac-Man machine. She also loved spending time with younger children. When her grandmother had company over, Kimani always took it upon herself to keep their little ones entertained. Kimani was loved by her peers and teachers alike. The way they spoke of her, you could tell that she was one in a million,

Starting point is 00:01:44 always kind, generous, and thoughtful. Kimani left a lasting impression on everyone that she encountered. Her 14th birthday was coming up, and she told her grandmother that she wanted a basketball-th-themed birthday party. Kimani confided in her teachers both at Spring Elementary and at schools in the past that she wasn't in a safe environment at home. As mandatory reporters, they contacted Child Protective Services, though there was little action taken to protect Kimani, if at all. It's unclear who or what caused these concerns. Teacher Kalene Haribetian said that Kimani was living with a different guardian at the time she made her report.

Starting point is 00:02:23 It's also reported that Dorothy admitted to excessive physical discipline to, to caseworkers. Speaking to them alone, Kimani told CPS investigators that she felt safe in Dorothy's home. Ms. Haribidian said Kimani was constantly bruised and fearful of going home. At Spring Elementary, a student claimed that Kimani showed up to class with bruises on her arms and said that her grandmother and her were fighting. Outside of school, Kimani spent much of her time alone. Her grandmother worked very long hours so she would go straight home after class with only her two dogs for company. Himani was said to be good and responsible, so Dorothy felt comfortable leaving her unsupervised.

Starting point is 00:03:04 According to Dorothy, she always calls me and asks me prior to going somewhere. She is a latchkey kid, so she has her own keys for the home. She has a phone just in case something happens so she can contact somebody. She's very responsible. Kimani was last seen by her mother Tiara on Saturday, March 15th, and by her father, Darnell on Sunday, March 16th. On that Saturday, Darnell dropped Kimani off in front of her mother's home. Tiara said that Dorothy gave him permission to do so.

Starting point is 00:03:34 Khamani spent that Saturday with her mother. Following day, Darnell said she called him late at night scared. Amani thought there was an intruder outside of the property and she was too afraid to be alone. So her father and his cousin stayed with her until 12.30 in the morning. Then on Monday morning, Dorothy returned home from work. She said the front door was unlocked and the house was locked. and the house was a mess. The gas on the stove was running,

Starting point is 00:03:58 and Kamani was nowhere to be found. Her house keys and glasses were left inside, along with her sleepwear and underwear. She didn't answer her phone. She had not shown up for school, something very unlike Kamani. Understandably concerned, Dorothy called 911. Regional destination on emergency.

Starting point is 00:04:19 Yes, I'd like to make the police report. Okay, well, what's that? Am Street. Okay, well, okay. kind of report. Missing person. Okay, what's your name? Mine or hers?

Starting point is 00:04:34 Yours. Dorothy. Okay, and who's missing? Keep mining. Is this your daughter, son? This is my granddaughter. Okay, do you have custody? I do.

Starting point is 00:04:47 Okay, how old is she? Our thing. How long ago she's been missing? So, uh, so the best of my understanding, she's just, just been missing this morning. And I called her school and went up to her school and they said she's not there. What's the little does she go to? Spring. Do you remember, uh, did you see what she was wearing before she left? No, um, she's usually going to school before I get home from work.

Starting point is 00:05:15 Okay. Is she black or Hispanic? She's black. She looks Hispanic. Okay. And then what was her last name? Let's see. Okay. Does she have a phone on her that you're aware of? She does and it's dead Because it's going straight to voicemail A police report was filed And Kiemani was officially a missing child 13 action news interviewed Dorothy the following day

Starting point is 00:05:43 When I came home, she wasn't here Of course she was supposed to have been on her way to school But according to the way that the house was set up Once I got here Because it was in complete disarray she wasn't here. So I called the school so that I can talk to her and they said that she wasn't there.

Starting point is 00:06:07 So shortly thereafter, I contacted him and went up to the school and had them check again. And again, they stated that she was not there. So we started looking for us. The house was unlocked. And when I walked in the house, all of the gas was on in the house. Like the stove was on, there was no fire, but you can hear and smell.

Starting point is 00:06:29 the gas on in the house. And that's definitely unusual. Other than her and I, it's just the two dogs in the house, so who cut it on? So that was kind of suspicious. Then her glasses and her underclothes were by the couch in the front room. Her pajamas were in a dining room in the floor. So it was just out the ordinary. When you say glasses, does she need those glasses to see? I mean, she wears glasses on a daily basis. Yeah, she needs them for school, just period. The hymn that Dorothy refers to is Darnell, who stood next to her in the first interview.

Starting point is 00:07:08 He also spoke to the reporters. Yeah, she has her own keys, so she left glasses and keys. It ain't adding up. I'm saying. Does she have a cell phone? Yeah, and it's going straight to voicemail. Okay, all right. And she tried to call.

Starting point is 00:07:23 She tried to call me at 129. And then she called my girl like five other times. And the last call came in at 149. So she was trying to get in contact with somebody. And so no one has had contact with her, nobody saw her. Who was the last person to really see her? It was me. I came over here because she said that it seemed like somebody was trying to break into the house.

Starting point is 00:07:47 So I sat for an hour, me and my cousin, we sat over here. And we left around like 1230-ish. and she tried to call at like 129 and I missed the call. So she was calling everybody else too. A search party was held on March 21st where citizens of Toledo in neighboring cities joined forces to hopefully bring Kimani home. They handed out missing persons flyers with Kimani's name and face, spreading the word. Her mother, Tiarra, who was in attendance, spoke to the press. I have not slept in three days.

Starting point is 00:08:20 I have not eaten in three days. I have never had a seizure before and I've had three. All forms of support help, whether it's a social media post, whether it's you hanging up a flyer, whether you just bringing up her name and conversation and making sure that people hear about her, it still makes a difference. Few people, if any, suspected that Kimani just simply ran away.

Starting point is 00:08:44 She was a good, responsible kid, and the house was completely trashed. From the beginning, people everywhere from the community to law enforcement. suspected that this was a kidnapping, though they had no idea who could have snatched Kimani from her home. But law enforcement quickly began to put the pieces together. They turned their attention to the last person to see Kimani alive, her father. Darnell repeated the story he told the press to police officers, though it's reported his details changed over time.

Starting point is 00:09:14 In an interview with police, Dorothy said Kimani's underwear, which was left on the living room floor had disappeared shortly after Darnell visited her home. She had told him it concerned her, and after he left, she realized it was gone. Darnell Jones's history of violent crime and DV did not help his case. Journalists Yarko Kuck and Eric Taunton gathered Darnell's entire criminal record and compiled it in an article for the Toledo Blade newspaper. It began with a drunken disorderly charge when he was 19 years old. In a year, he was a year, he was a year. He was a was a common sight in Toledo courtrooms for similar offenses, gradually increasing in severity until he set fire to a building. Darnel took an Alford plea for a lesser sentence in exchange

Starting point is 00:10:00 for a smaller charge. Instead of committing arson, he pled guilty to attempting to commit arson. While his sentence was reduced, it still came with a litany of conditions and restrictions, such as serving time, getting a job, his GED, and receiving treatment at a drug and alcohol facility. Darnell was a felon, which meant it was illegal for him to purchase or own a firearm. He went about four years without making a court appearance. January of 2015, Darnell and an unnamed man were in the Greenbelt Place apartments. They got into an altercation and Darnell pulled out a gun. He shot at the victim and ran, but he was chased down and apprehended by authorities.

Starting point is 00:10:41 His trial was resolved five months later. Again, he was directed to receive treatment and fine employment, along with serving time and a work-reliance. facility, undergoing a mental health assessment and wearing an ankle monitor. In November, law enforcement found Darnell broke the conditions of his community control. For this, he was placed back in the work release facility. During his time there, he lost his temper while arguing with one of the officers. He broke a window when he punched it in anger. He was charged with a misdemeanor and transferred to a different facility.

Starting point is 00:11:13 Darnell left in June of 2017 and was a free man for an entire two months. In August of 2017, he was performing maintenance work on his car when a man confronted him for stealing from a family member. The man said Darnell hit him in the face with an alternator, to which Darnell claimed it was self-defense. His wife at the time, Antonia Sullivan, was also interviewed by officers. Either way, the man needed more than 20 stitches to repair his face. Darnell was arrested for felonious assault initially sentenced to 180 days in a corrections center. Instead of serving time, his sentence was. suspended. He only needed to endure two years of probation, which he violated after six months.

Starting point is 00:11:53 Darnell was charged with drunk and disorderly conduct again. While waiting for his court hearing, he tried to break into a woman's home through a window. Police were called. When the woman learned Darnell was intoxicated, she decided not to press charges. But Darnell was charged for drunk and disorderly conduct for a third time. He was also charged with carrying a concealed weapon after an open pocket knife was found in his person. His punishment was more of the same, committed to a work release program and required to get a job. He almost had a fourth drunken disorderly charge on his record, but this case was dismissed by the courts. His criminal record up until now had characterized him as irresponsible, impulsive, quick to anger, and somebody to be wary of.

Starting point is 00:12:36 But there was still worse yet to come from him. In 2019, Darnel and his wife Antonia were living in an apartment complex in East Toledo. According to their neighbors, they were far from a happy couple. Shouting matches were commonly heard within the apartment, loud enough to be audible to any pass or by through the walls. In July of that year, one of Darnell and Antonia's fights escalated. He got violent, throwing objects and choking her. He hurled two televisions from the second floor balcony,

Starting point is 00:13:08 and witnesses said that Darnell was close to doing the same to the woman. The commotion drew enough attention for multiple calls to be placed to 911. Antonio was thankfully saved, but she did not want to press charges against her husband. Instead, the neighbors offered their witness statements to the police. Combined with the evidence at the scene, officers could arrest Darnell without Antonia's cooperation. Darnell was charged with assault in DV. The assault charges were dropped and he pled guilty to the DV charge.

Starting point is 00:13:39 He was sentenced to 180 days in a correction center. He was only in custody for 11 days, which were so. served during the legal proceedings. Instead, he was put on probation and made to receive treatment for substance use, but was relieved from this after 11 more days. The next year in April, Darnell was shot in the chest and brought to a hospital for treatment. It's reported he was trespassing onto a neighbor's property. Got into an argument with one of the homes' residents, and at least one round was fired. No charges were pressed. In 2022, officers were alerted to a daycare parking lot. They found a drunken Darnell lying on

Starting point is 00:14:16 the ground holding a firearm. According to the charges, he fired the gun at some point. He was also in possession of drug paraphernalia. The prosecution and defense reached a plea bargain. The charges of paraphernalia possession, drunk in disorderly conduct, and discharging a firearm were all dropped. Darnel pled guilty to attempted possession of a weapon as a felon and using a weapon while intoxicated. Since his previous community control sentences proved unsuccessful, he was thrown in prison for only a year. girlfriend Nina took notice some suspicious activity early on. When he visited her, he asked that she turned off her in-home security cameras. A family member also confided that they saw Darnel

Starting point is 00:14:57 hiding something underneath her basement staircase. Nina was under the impression that Kimani's case was just that of a typical runaway teenager, but the gears in her head spun erratically when she saw what was in her staircase closet. She didn't want to believe it. She thought Darnel was a good partner and father, but she couldn't ignore what was in front of her. She called detectives and told them what she had learned. They swiftly confiscated the evidence that Darnell was trying to hide. His muddy work boots and a rolled rubber mat meant to protect the back seats of cars when they're folded down.

Starting point is 00:15:33 Nina noted that he hadn't needed his boots for some time since he wasn't working. The detectives left the property before Darnell returned home. But when he saw his basement stash was gone, he left for good. Nina never saw him after that. She was so scared that she relocated herself and her daughter to a new living space in case Darnel found out that she had turned against him. He later called her. The phone number was based in Columbus and she passed that information onto the police.

Starting point is 00:16:03 In many cases we've covered, we often see women trying to protect their male partners when they commit a heinous crime. It speaks volumes that Nina Turner didn't do this. It was no doubt a difficult choice to help investigators, locate someone she loved, but it was absolutely the right one. If not for her diligence, Darnell Jones may not have been found so quickly. According to court documents, evidence from his phone, home, and surveillance footage was enough to request an arrest warrant. He was charged with abduction, and a warrant for his arrest was issued on March 23rd. Darnell's time living on

Starting point is 00:16:39 Willard Street was uneventful. His neighbors thought he was perfectly normal, so it surprised and shocked them greatly that laid-back and cool Darnell could have had it in him to be so dangerous. They were horrified, especially those who were parents or grandparents, that they live so close to a monster. Three years before Kimani went missing, a house in East Toledo caught on fire. Fire trucks were dispatched to the scene at approximately 11 p.m. on May 4th, 2022. Firefighters discovered the flames started within the second floor, but no one could figure out the cause of the fire. Despite the damage, the house was largely untouched. for three years. In May of 2024, it was labeled a public nuisance and potentially a danger to the public

Starting point is 00:17:21 safety. The house was also in violation of the city's municipal codes. The city sent the homeowner a notice warning him that the property was subject to demolition. Following this, the property stood for 10 months. However, on March 24th, a body was found in this abandoned house located on the second floor. The crowd formed outside the house waiting with bated breath if Kimani was inside. Members of the crowd yelled at investigators to give them answers. Mother Tiara was among the onlookers when law enforcement found her daughter. She didn't know what was going on and she had some emotional episodes during this period of uncertainty, understandably. Maybe they're still not telling me nothing. It takes nothing. It's nothing to, you know what I'm saying? Let me know when the coroner's bringing

Starting point is 00:18:07 around so I can see if that's indeed my baby. Y'all not saying nothing. It was Kimani. She had been assayed and her hands completely amputated. Her throat had been cut so deep that she was nearly decapitated. The autopsy revealed it was the wounds to her neck that ultimately ended her life. After officers told Tiarro what they found, she fell to her knees and cried. The mayor was one of the many public officials to speak about the effect this case had on the community, he said. It's hard to put into words just how terrible an event this is. Obviously, for the family and friends most directly affected, but really even for the whole community. I'm not a prosecutor. I'm not a judge, and I want the process to play itself out fairly and make

Starting point is 00:18:54 sure everyone gets their day in court. But whoever was responsible for this, I hope they throw the book at them. That's just me. No one deserves what this young girl went through, and if justice is to be served, someone needs to pay for what they did. Later in the evening, it appeared that Dorothy Lateeague had been arrested. It was reported that she was escorted from her home in handcuffs. A spokesperson for the Toledo Police Department denied this was the case. Dorothy and police officers both said they had to move her for her safety as a crowd had started to gather outside of her home. It's unknown why exactly a stage arrest was the best course of action, but since both parties have confirmed these events, we can take them at their word. Well, I was called and told that

Starting point is 00:19:43 There was a mob of people in front of my house. They were angry. It was more or less the people that were here earlier waiting to see if it was Kimani that was in the home. And basically some people from the neighborhood that contacted me and said that there was a mob in front of my house. And they were talking about what they were going to do to me once I came home. So the police, the detective said that she would have a unit come out and help me get my things. and more or less escort me off the property. I asked to be handcuffed just so they can get the a

Starting point is 00:20:19 away from my property. Are you scared? So no, I was never arrested. I was taken downtown, but I was never arrested. Are you scared for your safety right now? I am. What are some of the things that you've been hearing and receiving from people? They said they was going to blow up my house.

Starting point is 00:20:38 They said they were going to do harm to me. it's just been a barrage of different things that they've been stating. The community held a vigil for Kimani the next day. Many people came to honor her memory. Some knew her personally, but many were total strangers. Her former teacher, Kaeline Haribetian, was in attendance. Sick to my core, devastated, to say the least. I made many reports concerned about her safety

Starting point is 00:21:11 and was fearful that something like this might happen. I don't even have the words to express how I feel. Kimani expressed some things to us in the school, not only to myself but to the other adults in the building, her peers, her school bus driver, who all made phone calls to Child Protective Services. Lucas County Children Services was notified on several different occasions

Starting point is 00:21:34 that she may be at risk of child abuse in the home. And it just fell on deaf ears. Our calls were not heard, her voice was not heard. And she told us some very concerning things that were happening to her in the household. She was very sweet. I enjoyed having her at school every day. She greeted me every single morning with a hug.

Starting point is 00:21:56 That was all she truly ever wanted was affection. She was a great student to have in the classroom. She always participated. She enjoyed playing football outside with her peers when we would go out for recess. She's very kind, super generous, always offering her breakfast in the morning, like asking me, oh, Ms. H, are you thirsty? I brought you a milk, things like that. And she did this every single day.

Starting point is 00:22:19 I mean, she was just a joy to be around. A woman who didn't even know Kimani also had a chance to speak to the press. Sherry Sweeney spoke of family, unity, and importance of listening to our community's children. Family that pray together stays together. And this is the time when we need to come together. We need to tell our young folks, whatever's going on at home, school, church, parts, you can talk to us. Never be afraid to tell us where you at what's going on with you, what's happening, because we can't help you. Right now we're losing our babies at the hands of adults, whoever.

Starting point is 00:22:59 It's senseless. It's so senseless here in Toledo. George Sarantzhow of the Toledo City Council called Kimani's death a tragedy that could have been avoided. He not only criticized CPS for its inaction in her case, but also encouraged the local press to investigate the organizations that failed Kimani and many other children in similar situations. Law enforcement across the entire state of Ohio were issued a be-on-the-lookout alert, also known as a Bolo for Darnell Jones. He evaded law enforcement until the following day when he was found in colloquial. Lumbus. SWAT officers found Darnel and his car. It shaved his head and attempt to disguise himself. When they approached him, weapons were drawn and Darnel appeared calm. He said,

Starting point is 00:23:44 Just kill me, kill me. But the officers quickly noted their suspect's hand was in his pocket. Rather than go quietly, he responded by pulling out a gun. Within seconds, Darnel was apprehended. He was shot, but not fatally. As he was handcuffed and being attended to by medical personnel, He said that he was in pain and he didn't want to be on this earth any longer. Officers confiscated the revolver in a walkie-talkie from Darnell. He was hospitalized the Wexner Medical Center in Ohio State University. None of the officers were reported to be wounded in the altercation. Here, man.

Starting point is 00:24:24 What's your hands? Kill me. Dude, tell me your fucking hands right now. Pull your fucking hand out. I swear to God, pull your... Chest fired. Just in a second. The medic, both.

Starting point is 00:24:41 Don't fucking. Three right there. 33 is here. No, it's a walkie-talkie, but there are 33's right here. Don't you move or you're going to get shot, okay? All right. Got it. Yep.

Starting point is 00:25:08 That's him. Somebody get on the main air. Get us some medic. I'm working on it. All right. On your belly. All right. I got cuffs.

Starting point is 00:25:23 There you go. Thank you, brother. We'll get you help, okay? I just want to die, bro. No, I know. I know, but we can't allow that. Get us some cruisers. Secure this scene.

Starting point is 00:25:43 He was fired. He came in the car. He did, too. You did? I did. I did not. Okay. He did.

Starting point is 00:25:51 Okay. You good? All right. You good? All right. I know. I know. All right.

Starting point is 00:25:56 Listen to me. Listen me, I got to roll you off. I got to get you up on your side, okay? I got to get you up on your side. I got you. All right. Where do you hit at, bro? I don't know, all in my leg.

Starting point is 00:26:09 All in your leg. He's all hit right here. I know. He's hitting his arm once. You need a medicare now. Where's your hands? We got them. He's hit once in the arm.

Starting point is 00:26:23 All right. He's hitting the side here. Yep, you're hitting his side. Okay. You're going to be fine. You know what's good about this? Sit up, okay. You're going to be fine.

Starting point is 00:26:32 I can move on my leg. I know. I know. I think they're broke. Where do you guys need it? There you go. How's that? Okay.

Starting point is 00:26:42 Okay. We're going to leave you sit here like this. Take a deep breath. Give me that way. Take a deep breath for me, okay? Hey, move your car, block that road. You're on Chalcayson. Get that road block. We can't lay you down. Okay, you've got to stay up. I'll hold you up, all right? You just relax. Lean back in the... There you go. You're going to be fine. Listen, hey, nothing's ever that bad, all right? It is. Okay.

Starting point is 00:27:09 Darnel, right? Do you have anything else on you? Do you have any more guns? Yes? Where's the gun's at? Where's your other gun at? I don't... Darnel.

Starting point is 00:27:25 Hey! Darnel! Do you have anything else on you? Yeah, you said you had a gun. Well, I don't... I think you just fade and I don't know. No, just stay back, okay, please. Stay back! Hey, okay. Okay, we're making good witnesses.

Starting point is 00:27:42 You're fine, ma'am. You're fine. We need a cart. We need a cart. Here, legs, orange. Which way do you want his head? Do you need him out of the cuffs? Yeah, we're gonna need them out. All right. We're gonna have to roll you over one more time, all right? Got to get those cough off. You see, relax. He's hitting the arm, leg, arm, and I believe left chest. Okay. I get a good search on him.

Starting point is 00:28:27 Everything's got to come up. You take any malt down and up in this? Yeah, we'll. All right, pull this off. You're cutting your cuff off. He's got your belt. You have to help us lift? Just staring.

Starting point is 00:28:40 All right, I'm good. Hey, don't move your arm. It hurts. They're going to help you, okay? I can't hurt you just keep you in the head. We're not trying to hurt you. We're not trying to kill you. No, we're not going to take it off your arm.

Starting point is 00:28:56 Now I'm going to take it off your arm, okay? They're going to cut it off in just a second. On top of the murder and essay charges, the stunt of his gave him extra charges of assaulting a police officer. He was supposed to appear for an arraignment, but since he was in the hospital, his hearing was pushed back. Like Trondale, chief of the Toledo Police Department, said Kimani's death was heartbreaking to the people of Toledo. Despite his past experience, her case shocked him. You know, there's evil in the world. and I shouldn't be surprised.

Starting point is 00:29:27 I mean, after 31 and a half years of seeing evil, but sometimes even today, you get surprised at how much evil's out there. Lucas County Children's Services, or LCCS, receive heavy backlash from the community for their inaction in Khamani's case. Pete Gurkin of the Lucas County Board of Commissioners called it the lowest point of disconnect between Lucas County Children's Services in the community. The organization conducted an internal investigation on the reports about Kimani, specifically two from March of 2024 and one from December of 2023.

Starting point is 00:30:03 They spoke to Kimani one on one, but they said there was no evidence that showed she was to be placed under someone else's care. However, they instructed the grandmother on appropriate discipline. Darnell was not listed on the LCCS's records as Kimani's father, or even as an adult in her life. They have not said why this information was missing in the first place. LCCS discussed their staff shortages with the press, made worse by the aftermath of the pandemic. Child service positions are not easy jobs. They are long, demanding hours with below average pay and benefits. The job itself is difficult in nature.

Starting point is 00:30:43 Caseworkers bear witness to anything from financial poverty to extreme violence. So it's unsurprising that these positions, also have a high turnover rate. When there aren't enough filled positions, the workload in the individual caseworker is heavier, which then leads to more potential resignations and more chances for dangerous mistakes to be made. The Toledo Blades spoke with people employed by LCCS for insight on a day in the life of a child services caseworker. They reported that the number of children entering CPS care spiked following the pandemic and the opioid epidemic. By the end of In 2020, agencies in Ohio saw double the usual employee turnover rates, leaving more vacant positions.

Starting point is 00:31:27 One of these LCCS employees, Sarah Joella, told the Toledo Blade, in assessment, each unit has a supervisor, and then each supervisor has a maximum of five workers in their unit. Right now, my unit is at two. It is me and another worker. Right now, we have 15 workers in rotation, and we're typically at 30. It's fairly typical to come in on a Monday with what's been coming in over the weekend and have 17 or 18 intakes ready to be assigned. It is not an excuse for Kimani's death or of the suffering of many other children in Lucas County. Rather, it's an explanation of the why and the how.

Starting point is 00:32:04 Why did this happen? And how can we prevent it in the future? A woman named Audrey Haroon, who manages a youth group home, brought up the barrier for entry that excludes potential job candidates. The positions often require bachelor's degrees in social work or other related fields. Audrey believes that there are many people who could excel in these positions if they were just given the chance to prove themselves. You have people that have graduated from foster care through high school and have gone on to associate's degrees, but maybe not bachelors that would make really great caseworkers because they know what to look for. They know signs. They know good placements and bad placements that would give them the advantage there, but they maybe didn't have that chance to get their bachelor's degree.

Starting point is 00:32:47 They need to take candidates who have real-world experience and knowledge as well. Commissioner Girkin, along with other leaders in the county, conceptualized a task force to investigate the internal failings of their local child services agency. It was to be made of volunteers who fit a certain set of criteria. There were 30 applications after the first day. After the April 30th deadline, about 200 people had applied. The applicants had to fulfill at least one of five requirements to be considered by the county commissioner's office. have lived experience in the system, be a professional in the system, be a safety and criminal justice professional, be a mandatory reporter, or be a community leader. Those of certain

Starting point is 00:33:28 convictions or active litigations against them, such as involving DV or child welfare concerns, were obviously not considered for the task force. Three people were in charge of sorting through these applications and selecting those to fill in the slots. Director Brayda Osborne of Lucas County Job and Family Services, Chairperson Susette Cowell of the Chiefs, Children's Services Board of Trustees, and Robin Reese, the LCCS's former executive director. Randall Muth, the executive director of LCCS, didn't see the task force as a threat. Instead, he was on board and willing to work with the commissioners. According to him, the LCCS had considered making some previously classified information available

Starting point is 00:34:07 for public access. It wasn't necessarily information about Keimani, but details about the agency itself. They ultimately decided against doing this, since the government. They didn't want to jeopardize the investigation or the prosecution's case against Darnel Jones, in their own words. When asked by ABC Action News about the agency's current reputation in the community, he said, I do want to hold off on that. I want to see and look at the plans and designs of the task force, and that might be the better way to have that conversation. Once this prosecution is over, and with the help of the task force, I think we'll be able to release our files and let the people judge how we responded prior to Kimani's death.

Starting point is 00:34:45 and I look forward to that day. Following the reports of her passing, the people of Toledo turned to the sight of her death into a memorial. They left flowers, candles, plushies, and balloons. Some of these balloons read happy birthday as she would have turned 14 years old only three days after her body was found. Some people brought spray paint

Starting point is 00:35:06 and defaced one of the home's walls. It was marked with phrases as, Her life mattered. You let them silence her. And, CSB, where's you? your accountability. Patty Mazur, the spokesperson for the Toledo Public Schools, said in a statement after Kimani's body was found, the students and staff at Spring Elementary are saddened by the loss of their friends and classmate, Kimani Lattee. Kimani will be remembered as being very personable

Starting point is 00:35:34 in someone who got along well with others. Counselors and therapy dogs were brought in to help the Spring Elementary students, faculty, and staff through their grieving process. One of her former friends and classmates stood outside of the school with a sign that read, We love Yuki Mani. The young girl named Imani said of her friend. Like smart and she used to do her work. Sometimes she used to show me how to do some of the works inside my classroom because I didn't understand it.

Starting point is 00:36:04 I've seen some people crying and stuff, a lot of people crying and then people just like not talking how they usually talk, like talking kind of sad and love. According to court records, Darnell had admitted to his crimes. The indictment lists 15 counts against him from evidence tampering to kidnapping, essay, and murder. The case against him is the first Ohio death penalty case in over 10 years. Despite his confession, Darnell has pled not guilty to all the charges. It's considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Starting point is 00:36:34 Defense attorneys David Clucus and Anne Barronus were appointed to represent Darnell in court. Attorney Clucas' son is employed by the prosecutor's office, and they were instructed by Judge Michael R. Golding to talk about the case with each other during the court proceedings. Darnell was originally held on a $4 million bond, but the prosecution requested he have no bond at all in order to keep Darnell in police custody. Attorney Clucas requested that the court reconsider and give the two parties time to determine a fair bond amount. Judge Golding granted the prosecution's wish. Now, Darnell is currently being held without bond. In some of his early court appearances, Darnell was wearing what is known as a turtle suit. In jails and prisons, they are given to inmates at risk of hurting themselves or others. It's not a surprise given his previous attacks on people and trying to remove himself from this earth through the assistance of the police.

Starting point is 00:37:27 Now, if you recall, Darnell said in his initial story that he and his cousin went to Dorothy's house to watch Kimani. His cousin, Calip Jones Dixon, wasn't forgotten by the police. At the beginning of May of 2025, it was revealed his home was so. shortly after Darnel's was. Some evidence was confiscated along with phone and GPS records. In addition, Darnel's mother, Linda, denied speaking to her son after Kimani went missing, though phone records are reported to dispute this. While Dorothy said she and Kimani lived alone, police seized phone records from a woman

Starting point is 00:37:59 named Lisa White who lives in Dorothy's house and watched over Kimani when Dorothy was out. Lisa White says she was out for the night, Kimani went missing. These are fairly new developments, So our current scope of information is limited. At this time, we don't know if anyone else in the family or associated with the family is of interest in the police. These new accounts came out in May of 2025. We are currently recording on May 16th. So this is very, very new.

Starting point is 00:38:26 After Kimani's body was found, the city made the demolition of the abandoned property a priority. Preparations were made as early as April 8th. Word spread. and the community realized that Kimani's memorial would be damaged. About 20 volunteers gathered everything and moved it to a new location. It was on private property, but the owners gave permission to the volunteers. Moving the shrine took them about two hours, and the results were worth it. The house caught on fire again before officials could demolish the property.

Starting point is 00:39:01 Authority suspected arson, but an investigation is still ongoing. Tiara and Dorothy went to court over Kimani's funeral. They both believed themselves to have the sole right to plan the ceremony. Since Kimani lived with Dorothy for five and a half years and Tiara never visited the Latig home, the judge granted the rights to Dorothy. Kimani's funeral was supposed to be held at the Brown Legacy funeral home and the public was encouraged to donate if they wanted to help the family. The donations total about $6,000, but these plans fell through and the donations were transferred to the Dale Riggs funeral home. LCCS hosted a memorial service on April 24th, honoring not just Kimani's life, but the lives of

Starting point is 00:39:47 other children lost to violence and neglect. Kimani was referenced by name at this memorial, but did not have candles in her memory. Randall Muth was in attendance. He spoke to those in attendance in his speech. He said, this observance serves as a reminder that it takes everyone in our community, to keep kids safe. Unfortunately, hosting this annual memorial means that if we're here,

Starting point is 00:40:11 we're joined together lighting candles, that our community has lost our children.

The Misery Machine - The Case of Kei'Mani Latigue

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