WOODBINE– Kate Bernyk a spokeswoman for The Division of Youth and Family Services confirmed on Wednesday, April 29 that they did receive a report on March 19 of this year that alleged inadequate care and substance abuse by Caden Rivera’s biological mother Jennifer Bowen and physical abuse by Bowens boyfriend Damon Garcia of Wildwood.
Garcia is being held in lieu of $500,000 cash bail in the death of Caden Rivera, prosecutors allege Garcia beat the toddler to death.
Juan Rivera, Caden’s father said he warned the Division of Youth and Family Services his son was being abused however Bernyk was unable to confirm he made the allegations citing the ongoing investigation into Caden’s death.
Jacqueline La Douceur, who was friends with Bowen, had almost daily contact with the toddler and says she saw no signs of abuse.
Bowen did have a history with the child welfare agency that involved the removal of three other of Bowens children in 2000 when Bowen left the children unsupervised according to Bernyk. The Division did not proceed with the termination of parental rights because the children were placed with the biological father and a relative.
Bernyk says when Investigators went to Bowens home the Division did not remove 2 year-old Caden because they determined he was not in eminent danger. The allegation that Bowen was using drugs was proven to be unsubstantiated when Bowen consented to a drug test and passed.
Bernyk says the Division received a report one day before the toddler was born in 2007 alleging Bowen was using drugs, that report was also unfounded when Bowen passed a drug test.
The division kept the case open for nearly a year providing services and periodically testing Bowen for drugs, according to Bernyk, Bowen always passed.
Contact Scheeler at: 609-404-6515 or hscheeler@cmcherald.com
