MONTICELLO — Foster child Antonio Suarez Ware, a two-year-old boy, tragically died after being left in a hot car on July 16. The vehicle was located at the Sleepy Hollow Development on Terri Ln, Monticello. Authorities say they located the child more than an hour after being left in the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. 

In May of this year, Sullivan County Department of Youth and Family Services and Child Protective Services (CPS) removed Ware and his brother from their mother’s custody due to mental illness. Family members, including his aunts Chante Ware and Georgette Howard, have criticized Sullivan County officials for neglect and alleged that previous incidents of neglect were ignored. The family had been trying to gain custody of Antonio and Carlos since they were taken from the home.

Georgette Howard, who lives in Wichita, Kansas, had been reaching out to Sullivan County’s Office of Child Protective Services (CPS) since May, expressing concerns about the boys’ welfare. She alleged that CPS did not respond to her inquiries until just hours before Antonio’s death. Howard, who already has custody of the boy’s 15-year-old sister, is now seeking custody of Carlos to prevent him from entering another foster home. The family started a GoFundMe campaign to cover legal and travel expenses for this effort.

“I told them I don’t want Carlos to go into another foster home,” Howard said. “I want my nephew here with us. I will fight and I won’t stop until he is here with us. He will have a better life with us and I’m ready to drive up to New York.”

The County Manager’s Office said in a statement that the “Sullivan County’s Department of Social Services is fully participating in the investigation into the tragic and heartbreaking death of a child in foster care in Monticello this past week.”

“We are also cooperating with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, which conducts reviews of all such incidents across the State,” the statement read.

The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney, and State Police are investigating the incident, but no charges have been filed yet.

The family hired an attorney from Albany, Jasper Mills, who filed a Notice of Claim to the New York State Department of Children and Family Services, Sullivan County, and the foster parent. The claim alleges that before the children were placed in the care of the foster parent, there were numerous reported complaints alleging abuse and neglect. This reportedly includes complaints by at least one CPS employee, who has since been terminated. 

According to the claim, CPS reported multiple instances where it appeared the children had been abused/neglected.

“This all could have been avoided,” Mills said. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t, and now we must hold those responsible for Antonio’s death accountable.” It is likely the family will take this to court.