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Spokane mom who admitted to starving son out of prison

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by KREM.com, Associated Press

krem.com

Posted on March 10, 2010 at 5:18 PM

Updated Wednesday, Mar 10 at 7:31 PM

SPOKANE — The Spokane foster mother blamed for starving her 7-year-old son to death has been released from prison.

Carole DeLeon, 55, was released from Pine Lodge Correctional Facility Wednesday morning around 12:30 a.m.

DeLeon has served about half the sentence she received in a 2007 plea agreement.

Tyler DeLeon died in 2005 on the day he turned 7. The autopsy showed he weighed only 28 pounds.

Department of Social and Health Services says since DeLeon's case, there are new policies to prevent abusers to ever be a foster parent.

Investigations must be started in cases without serious risk in three days. If there is an emergency risk, the state has 24 hours to respond. Social workers must visit foster homes once a month, and background checks on potential parents now include comparing fingerprints in a nationwide system.

Training for social workers has also been updated to recognize patterns of abuse and decipher if a foster parent is lying.

In DeLeon's case, the state settled with Tyler's foster brothers and sisters for allegedly failing to protect them from DeLeon. DSHS is paying more than $6 million for the children to receive counseling and treatment for the abuse they suffered.

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Comments: Displaying 1 - 15 of 15

lilmexican said on March 16, 2010 at 8:34 PM

i better not run into this lady because if i do i will let her have it she should be in prison for the rest of her life.

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getrealppl said on March 13, 2010 at 10:39 AM

Why did they let this woman out? She killed a little boy, and by STARVING him to death no less! She should be thrown in a cell with no food or water and left to die. An eye for an eye.

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mtnlioness said on March 11, 2010 at 2:32 PM

Firstly, to Tyler's aunt, I am terribly sorry for your loss. I don't know the details of this story, but from reading about the 6 Million dollars going to the remaining children, they too suffered. I am so sorry. I was a foster kid. From age 13 months to age 17, I grew up in over 20 foster homes. I'd move with everything I owned in a brown paper sack. I experienced physical, psychological, and sexual abuse in many of those homes. At the age of almost 50 now, it saddens me to see the foster care system is no better now then it was then. This psycho should have been put away for good so she could no longer harm a child. I also want to state this article says "her son". What a slam to that poor boy who would never want to be known as this monster's son! The justice system is obviously whacked. How they can let this "woman" out of prison after the slow, torturous death of an innocent, helpless 7 year old boy is beyond my comprehension!!

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crikey said on March 11, 2010 at 2:13 PM

Shame. shame. shame on a judge who would sentence a child-torturer to only 6 yrs., and more shame on one who would let her out after only 3. Remember this at election time.

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nwchaos said on March 11, 2010 at 2:11 PM

I catch her in my neighborhood shopping center and she won't be able to hurt anyone ever again.1 bullet to the head - 1 less worthless human on this planet

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pisces said on March 11, 2010 at 12:10 PM

Every one from the criminal justice system to cps and finally the doctor that failed to report his horrible physical condition to the proper authorities have no excuses. I don't know how they can sleep at night. The entire system needs a drastic change or more of the same will happen.

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pisces said on March 11, 2010 at 12:04 PM

The criminal justice system is an absolute failure at best. This abuser should have got a good 20 to 25 year sentence. At least the system put little Summer Phelps step mother and father in the pen for a good long time---why not this woman??? You take a child's life,and you PAY.

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therealstarlight said on March 11, 2010 at 10:54 AM

She should pay back that 6 million that the other children are needing for counseling and treatment. There is no way this "monster" should have been let out into society. I hope she is not to be in company of any children for the rest of her life!

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twotikes said on March 11, 2010 at 5:42 AM

So much for justice!! May she not see a happy day the rest of her life and I hope this follows her every where she goes. She should have gotten life with no porole.

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local_plumber said on March 11, 2010 at 5:10 AM

Just another example of criminals having more rights and sympathy from our judicial system than law abiding citizens and innocent victims. It makes me mad that innocent children can be abused and neglected so much and there is no one to defend them properly, whether they are still alive or not. $6 million from DSHS is not enough. The State employees themselves are protected but also guilty personally and should lose their jobs over this. They are guilty of abuse and neglect too. Also, Delon should pay with her life and be given the same treatment she provided to the innocent children. Our judicial system really sucks. Pine lodge is closing. This is probably the real reason that DeLeon is being released.

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readngthenews said on March 10, 2010 at 10:05 PM

So, how long until she moves somewhere else, and abuses more children and kills another one? That nice local slogan and campaign that comes out once a year- "Our Kids, Our Business"- check into it, CPS/DSHS!!!! How is it even possible for someone to spend only three years in prison, after their actions cause a child to DIE?????? Our legal system is a total JOKE!!! We are a foster adopt family, our adopted childs case was handled fairly well, but even it had moments that left us questioning where DSHS' workers heads were at. Angie81.... I am so sorry for your family's loss. I cant even wrap my mind around the injustice done to your sweet nephew.

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angie81 said on March 10, 2010 at 9:36 PM

How did they even think 6 years was long enough time for killing my nephew. That girl who killed her roommate they are going for 25 years and she didnt even kill a child. I hope she thinks about him every day and how she took him away from my family. R.I.P my loving nephew tyler we love you and have and will miss you

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misjustice said on March 10, 2010 at 8:23 PM

6 million $$$s is a lot of counseling/treatment! DeLeon got off easy. Too bad the kids didn't...

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idunno said on March 10, 2010 at 7:52 PM

Did her rich daddy pull some more strings again? This was not an isolated incident and she should not enjoy any sort of freedom. Life in prison would not be enough for this lady. PROOF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK!!!! there is a few one liners for ya

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luvbeinasahm said on March 10, 2010 at 6:08 PM

Why was she released?

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