Social worker fired after Va. girl’s death

MANASSAS — A social services employee has been fired and two others disciplined in Prince William County for mishandling the case of a 13-year-old girl who authorities say was abused and killed by her adoptive mother, officials said this week.
  After Alexis ``Lexie’‘ Agyepong-Glover was found slain in a creek in January, many people said they had reported signs of abuse by her mother, Alfreedia Gregg-Glover, but the teen was not removed from the home. Gregg-Glover faces murder charges in the girl’s death.
  An internal review found that several employees did not follow proper procedures in response to the abuse and neglect reports, county officials announced Wednesday.
  ``I would say that we made some errors, no doubt about it,‘’ said John P. Ledden Jr., director of social services. ``I want to ensure we learn something from this case.‘’
  The department fired one senior social worker on Tuesday, and suspended two social work managers for five days without pay, according to officials. Ledden would not provide specifics on what the employees failed to do.
  The review has prompted changes to county procedures. Now, even when abuse reports are determined to be invalid, if there are three or more invalid reports about the same child, the case will be investigated further, Ledden said.
  The county has provided the social services department with money in the most recent budget to hire two more social workers after July 1. Ledden said he’s also considering additional training and responders on call after hours.
  The agency’s inquiry has been welcomed by those who attempted to warn officials that the girl was being abused. But some still blame county officials for not responding earlier.
  ``We understand that you didn’t murder her, but if you would have done your job and removed her from the home, she would have been protected,‘’ said Marlene Williams, a bus driver. Williams and her attendant told police that they saw Gregg-Glover drive with the girl in the trunk of a car in 2007.
  A Virginia Department of Social Services spokesman said an inquiry into the case is expected to be released to county officials within the next three weeks. The county police department also has ordered an internal review into the handling of its encounters with the girl.
  Gregg-Glover was indicted in March on several charges, including first-degree murder and felony child abuse. Police say she lied when she told them her daughter had run away in January. A massive search ensued. The girl’s body was found two days later in a Woodbridge area creek.
  Gregg-Glover’s trial is set for July 6.
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  Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com