DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) – A timeline of events in the death of a 2-year-old Decatur child shows she was removed from the custody of her parents twice before her death.

Investigators found 2-year-old Ta’Naja Barnes unresponsive, dirty and cold on Feb. 11. Her mother, 21-year-old Twanka Davis, and Davis’ boyfriend, 25-year-old Anthony Myers, face murder and endangering the life and health of a child charges in connection to Barnes’ death.

WAND-TV previously reported DCFS removed Barnes from Davis’ care in December of 2017 as it investigated a hotline call claiming abuse. DCFS leaders say Barnes then went to her father and her brother went to Davis and Myers after the two suspects completed mental health evaluations, parenting classes and substance abuse screenings.

Barnes' father took custody of her in March of 2018. A full timeline released Wednesday by DCFS shows a second hotline call alleging abuse, placed in June of 2018, that led to Barnes getting removed from her father’s custody and eventually going back to the home of Davis and Myers, where her body was found. The timeline, according to DCFS, is as follows:

  • 12/23/17 DCFS received a hotline call alleging abuse and neglect regarding Ta’naja. At this time, Ta’naja was living with her mother, her mother’s boyfriend and Ta’naja’s brother.
  • 12/27/17 A case was opened. Ta’naja and her brother were placed in foster care, with the case managed by Webster Cantrell Hall, a private agency.
  • 12/28/17 The court granted DCFS temporary custody of Ta’naja and her brother. Services to the mother and boyfriend began immediately and included mental health assessments, parenting classes and substance abuse screening. The family was compliant with services. Visitation with Ta’naja was established for her mother and father.
  • 3/27/18 By order of the court, the children were returned home to their parents after successful completion of their parenting classes. Based on case-specific interactions, custody of Ta’naja was granted to her father. Her brother was returned to their mother and her boyfriend. Beginning in March 2018, under court supervision, aftercare services were provided to both households by Webster Cantrell Hall. Some of the services included linkages to community resources, including programs administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the local health department. Visitation between the two involved families was established. During this time, caseworkers made routine visits with the families.
  • 6/27/18 Ta’naja was removed from her father’s home following a hotline call alleging abuse and again placed in foster care.
  • 8/8/18 By order of the court, Ta’naja returned home to her mother and her boyfriend. Webster Cantrell Hall continued to monitor the home through weekly unannounced visits.
  • 9/12/18 DCFS received a report alleging Ta’naja had red scratches on her stomach and a diaper rash. An investigation concluded the report was unfounded, as the marks were verified as scarring from a previous incident and no additional services were recommended.
  • 10/24/18 Upon recommendation of Webster Cantrell Hall, based on family’s cooperation with services and satisfactory monitoring of the home, the court ordered the case closed. With case closure, the child welfare community’s involvement with this family ended.
  • 11/06/18 A call was made to the DCFS hotline that was taken as an information only report regarding non-compliance with voluntary community services and medical neglect for lack of immunization. The call did not proceed to an investigation as the information provided did not substantiate allegations of medical neglect.
  • 2/11/19 Ta’naja’s death was reported to DCFS. DCFS opened investigation, in cooperation with the local police department.
  • Ta’naja’s brother was placed in foster care, with the case managed by DCFS.
  • DCFS leaders say they are working to improve their services in the aftermath of Barnes’ death. Interim Director Debra Dyer-Webster issued the following statement:

“DCFS is devastated by the loss of Ta’naja Barnes and is working with law enforcement to fully investigate what happened in this case. We have a responsibility to the children and families we serve to provide the best possible care, and we are committed to understanding where we come up short and striving to do better. Over the coming weeks and months, DCFS will be working with the new administration to increase our staff of caseworkers and investigators, review our practices on family involvement following case closure, and improve communication with the community of professionals involved in these cases.”

DCFS says it will do everything it can to cooperate with investigations or reviews by police, Child Death Review Teams and the DCFS Office of the Inspector General. It promises to review how it handles family involvement after cases close in court, and potentially bring in 126 new direct service staff if Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget proposal passes.