Police: Welfare agency had reports on couple whose son died | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Police: Welfare agency had reports on couple whose son died

In this undated booking photo provided by the Sedgwick County, Kansas, Sheriff, is 28-year-old Patrick Javonovich. Police say child welfare authorities had received abuse reports about a Wichita couple, Javonovich and Brandi Marchant, whose 3-year-old son, Zaiden Javonovich, was found dead at their mobile home. Police say an autopsy will determine the cause of death for Javonovich, whose parents were booked into jail last week on suspicion of felony murder. (Sedgwick County Sheriff via AP)
Original Publication Date April 16, 2019 - 7:51 AM

WICHITA, Kan. - Child welfare authorities had received abuse reports about a Wichita couple whose 3-year-old son was found dead in a crib at their mobile home where a baby also was found in critical condition, according to police.

Capt. Brent Allred provided no details Monday on the Kansas Department for Children and Families' involvement with the family of Zaiden Javonovich, whom investigators believe had been dead for days before his body was found. The welfare agency, which has been under fire after other child deaths, declined to comment while it's investigating the case.

Although welfare officials had received reports, police officers hadn't received such reports before finding the child's body Thursday while responding to a domestic disturbance at the home. Police encountered Zaiden's parents — 28-year-old Patrick Javonovich and 22-year-old Brandi Marchant — as they walked back to the home.

Inside, officers found Zaiden's body wrapped in a blanket in a crib. Allred said Zaiden suffered "obvious injuries," but he didn't elaborate.

Officers also found an injured 4-month-old boy, who was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Allred said the baby is improving.

"It's shocking to see adults treat their kids in the way these two were treated," Allred said. "It's, I say, pathetic, because that's what it is."

Zaiden's 22-year-old mother, Brandi Kai Marchant, and 28-year-old father, Patrick Javonovich, made their their first court appearances on Tuesday. They both face five charges, including first-degree murder with alternative underlying felonies of neglect and abuse, The Wichita Eagle reported. They also face two counts of abuse of a child and aggravated endangerment of a child. Their bonds were set at $200,000 each.

The home, where the family had lived for a couple months, had food and no signs of drug use, police said. Allred said Marchant has two other children but doesn't have custody of them. Javonovich has one other child who sometimes visits on weekends.

The Wichita area has seen several child abuse homicides. The victims include 3-year-old Evan Brewer, whose body was found encased in concrete, and 5-year-old Lucas Hernandez, whose body was found under a rural bridge months after he went missing.

The agency had extensive involvement with both children before their deaths. While campaigning last year, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly repeatedly described problems in the child welfare system as among the most pressing the state faces. Lawmakers now are considering increasing funding to add more child welfare workers.

News from © The Associated Press, 2019
The Associated Press

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