Justice joins investigation of toddler's death 3

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--> --> Justice joins investigation of toddler's death PORTLAND (AP) - The state Justice Department will investigate how a 20-month-old girl on a state-supervised visit with her mother wound up strangled to death. Alexis Lopez, who has been in state custody since last fall, died July 11 during a scheduled visit with her mother, Sharon Weston. Weston was arraigned Friday in Multnomah County Circuit Court on aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder charges. A trial date has not yet been set. Police say the caseworker who supervised Weston's visit was not aware that she had taken off with Alexis until police contacted him in the park after the child was killed. Police said the agency worker was found in a state car reading a newspaper more than 45 minutes after Weston had taken her daughter's body to a nearby funeral chapel. Kristen Grainger, assistant to Attorney General Hardy Myers, said the agency will assist the State Office for Services to Children and Families in investigating the events that led to Lopez's death. Grainger said the Justice Department is not conducting a criminal investigation. But agency lawyers will look into whether SCF employees involved in Weston's visitation with her daughter made errors. Grainger also said Justice Department officials will collaborate with the children's welfare agency to review its visitation policies and help make recommendations for changes if needed. Weston's two other children were earlier removed from her care by SCF, and Weston remains on a suicide watch in the Justice Center jail, where she has been held without bail since July 11. Bob Mink, director of the Department of Human Services, said he asked for Justice Department involvement to ensure that the investigation is impartial and thorough. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing