TRUE CRIME: Drug Use and DV in Toddler's Home

Amari Deantre Boone was born on June 9th, 2016, to parents Rodney Boone and Ariana George. Despite their financial struggles, his parents loved him dearly. The family lived in Fort Worth, Texas, and by the time Amari was two, Ariana was pregnant with his little brother. However, by the summer of 2018, the family faced significant challenges involving state agencies.

On August 15th, 2018, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (CPS) was contacted about Ariana, who was nine months pregnant and had tested positive for substance use. Allegations of drug use in front of Amari and domestic violence in the home were also reported. While Rodney denied these claims, Ariana described frequent physical altercations.

By August, Ariana had lost her apartment and was evicted due to aggressive behavior. She stayed with a family member and soon gave birth to her second son. Social services arranged for Ariana to stay in a women's shelter, where she had the opportunity to participate in drug counseling. However, by early October, she missed two drug test appointments, citing her children's constant illness due to the shelter conditions. Faced with these difficulties, Ariana temporarily gave up custody of her boys, and Rodney also expressed concerns to social services.

In October 2018, Amari and his brother were placed in a foster home as Ariana worked to regain stability. At the intake, both boys were found to be in poor condition, with Amari's brother having a severe diaper rash and Amari appearing hungry and unclean. The boys stayed in foster care for over a year, and Ariana, embarrassed and ashamed, tried to hide this fact from friends and family. During this time, Rodney continued to face legal troubles.

By January 2020, Ariana had cleaned up and found employment, taking all mandated parenting classes. The boys were then placed in a fictive care home with Deondrick Foley and his partner, Joseph Delaney, who were friends of Rodney. Despite background checks and a home visit, Deondrick was more on board with the placement than Joseph.

CPS was undergoing privatization, with contracts given to nonprofit organizations like ACH Child and Family Services, which led to oversight issues. The boys' case was handled by caseworker Shalia Roberson, whose documentation and follow-up were severely lacking.

In February 2020, Amari was taken to Cook Children's Medical Center with a fractured pelvis, a severe injury typically caused by significant trauma. However, this incident was not properly documented or followed up on by Roberson.

In March, during a visit, Ariana noticed several injuries on Amari, including cuts, bruises, and two black eyes. Despite her concerns, the caseworker dismissed these injuries. The daycare director also reported injuries, but these were not documented in Amari's file.

On April 10th, Rodney received a call that Amari had suffered a seizure and was at Cook Children's Medical Center. Surveillance footage showed Deondrick bringing Amari, who was rigid and unresponsive, into the ER. The couple's explanations for Amari's injuries were inconsistent and did not align with the severity of his condition. Medical staff immediately suspected abuse.

Amari was in a coma when he arrived and, despite his parents' vigil, he passed away on April 12th, 2020. An autopsy revealed multiple injuries, including a skull fracture, broken arms, fingers, and ribs, and signs of prolonged abuse. His death was ruled a homicide.

Despite the horrific nature of Amari's injuries, no charges were immediately filed. It wasn't until January 2021 that Deondrick and Joseph were arrested, but the charges were minimal compared to the severity of the abuse.

Ariana also filed a lawsuit against ACH Child Services and the individuals involved in Amari's case, highlighting the gross negligence and failure to protect her son.

Amari Boone was remembered as a smart, playful boy who loved snacks and the TV show PJ Masks. His death highlighted significant failures in the foster care system, and his family continues to seek justice for him.