State lawmakers investigating Erie County Child Protective Services in the wakes of two child murders heard testimony from nearly two dozen people in Buffalo Thursday.Among them was Robin Hart, the grandmother of Eain Brooks, the 5-year-old Buffalo boy who beaten to death and sexually abused in September, allegedly by his mother's live-in boyfriend Matthew Kuzdal. Kuzdal is facing charges of murder and sexual assault.
Hart said changes must be made immediately to prevent the loss of another young life.
"If we feel this system is broken and these people have failed, we can't wait eight months...we need to fix it now. Every child's life depends on us to do something," Hart said.
Hart, Brooks' maternal grandmother, said CPS workers should have never questioned Eain with Kuzdzal in the home.
"A four-year-old child [is] easily scared. They scare these children. They threaten them, 'If you tell, I'll make sure you never see mommy,'" Hart said.
Hart told the Assembly Committee on Children and Families the CPS worker who investigated multiple complaints about Kuzdal "failed." She said if a child has a mark them, the suspect or the child should be removed the home.
Abdifatah Mohamud was 10 years old when he was fatally beaten by his stepfather, Ali-Mohamed Mohamud, in April 2012. The man was convicted of second-degree murder at trial and sentenced to 25 years-t0-life in prison.
In both cases, family members had contacted CPS numerous times with concerns over the well-being of the boys.
Carol Dankert-Maurer, commissioner of Erie County's Department of Social Services, said she is "heartbroken" by the two tragedies.
"For us, this about never being satisfied that our response is sufficient, never taking a statement, an observation [or] an assurance for granted," Dankert-Maurer said.
The all-day public hearing, which began at 10 a.m., was held in Council Chambers at City Hall. Nearly two-dozen people spoke in front of the assembled lawmakers.
