3 state child protection workers fired after investigation of Natchez child’s death

Published 6:30 pm Friday, August 9, 2019

JACKSON (AP) — The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services has fired two case workers and a supervisor after an investigation into the death of a 4-year-old child in Natchez.

The department announced the terminations Friday. It says its review of a month-long internal investigation into the case involving Armani Hill is completed. The girl was pronounced dead June 5 after being beaten so severely that she could not walk. Natchez Coroner James Lee said an autopsy shows the child died from blunt force trauma.

The girl’s 3-year-old sister, Lailah, was also critically hospitalized, but was treated and released.

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The children’s mother, 25-year-old Lakeisha Jones, faces two counts of child deprivation.

Jones’ boyfriend, 24-year-old James Anderson, faces two counts of felony child abuse. Police say he was babysitting when the abuse occurred.