AUBURN, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- The sister of a woman who acted as a foster mom to a 2-year-old who was found dead is speaking out, saying her sister was a loving caretaker and that their family wants to know what happened to that little girl just as badly as police do.
Police continue to investigate what caused the sudden death of a 2-year-old foster child and left a 22-month-old clinging to life. And FOX25 recently learned that DCF granted their foster mother, Kim Malpass, a special waiver.
Sources tell FOX25 that investigators are examining if overheating led to the tragedy at the Auburn duplex. Ava Conway Coxon, the 2-year-old who was found dead, and the 22-month-old who is now in the hospital, were among six children who lived in the home. Three were foster children and they were all under the age of 2, which required a special waiver.
>>READ MORE: Biological mother says she was going to get custody back before daughter died in Auburn home.
The foster mom's sister says it has taken the family some time to speak out because they are all devastated and say Malpass loved the children, which is why she opened her home to them.
Tamari Malpass said, "My sister is an amazing person. What's in her heart is that she's taking in these children to be there for them and let them live in her home and be normal and have the best life until they can be reunited with their parents."
She says the children were part of her family and that they want answers, just like investigators.
"We have no comments on what happened. I don't know what happened. We want to find out what happened just as much as the media and the public and the police do," she said.
When asked if it was a freak accident, Tamari Malpass said, "I can't comment on that. I'm not sure what happened."
We asked DCF about their over-capacity waivers and they say they began using them in the late 1990s. They say exceptions can be made in order to keep siblings together.
Cox Media Group
