Tamiyah Audain

Name: Tamiyah Audain
Died: September 25, 2013
Age at death: 12
Cause of death: Neglect; infection and starvation
Location: Lauderhill, Florida, USA

Details:
Tamiyah Audain loved food and loved to smile. When she saw family members, she would always greet them with a big hug.

Tamiyah, who had autism and tuberous sclerosis, lived with her mother until her mother died. Her father and grandparents could not take care of her, so she was sent to live with a cousin until a more permanent place for her could be found.

She lived in an apartment complex with an open courtyard, and used to sit in her wheelchair in the courtyard. She was enrolled in school at a center for disabled children.

Tamiyah’s tuberous sclerosis meant that she needed help with all her basic needs. Her cousin asked for help multiple times, for money for adult diapers and for assistance in caring for Tamiyah. She received one four-hour home visit.

An application from another relative who wanted Tamiyah to live with her had been ignored since early that year.

In the January before she died, two calls were made to child services, reporting that Tamiyah had bruises all over her body. The investigation was closed and nothing was done.

Before her death, neighbors noticed that Tamiyah no longer went out in the courtyard. She had been absent from school most of the last year, and she did not attend school at all for the five weeks prior to her death. She had missed several medical appointments as well. Tamiyah spent most of the time heavily sedated.

When her cousin found her unresponsive and called emergency services, Tamiyah was already dead. She was emaciated and had severe bedsores.

Tamiyah’s cousin was convicted of child neglect and sentenced to 3 years probation. A social worker was sentenced to 5 years probation.

References:
Caregiver charged in autistic girl’s death seeks bond
Supervised Population Information Detail
While agencies bickered, Broward girl died horrible death
Report: Questions Arise For Child Welfare Workers After Death Of 12-Year-Old
State records show pattern of neglect in death of Lauderhill girl
Florida child welfare worker, 3 others charged in girl’s starvation death