A Valentine’s Day nightmare: Girl’s Abduction Highlights CWOP Vulnerabilities

In a disturbing incident that underscores the ongoing challenges within the Texas child welfare system,an 11-year-old girl under the care of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) was nearly trafficked after being kidnapped from a hotel on Valentine’s Day. The girl was part of the Children Without Placement (CWOP) program, a controversial initiative designed as a temporary solution for children awaiting placement.

Details of the Kidnapping and Arrest

According to police reports,Kane jerome Smith,42,of Dallas,allegedly broke into the girl’s room at an Inn Residence in Stafford,Texas,were she was staying with rotating CPS staff. The girl reported that Smith cut through the window screen with a knife and forced her into his yellow cargo truck. Smith was later apprehended in Stafford and is currently held in the Fort Bend County Jail on a $150,000 bond.

The Stafford police report indicates potential sexual assault, weapon use, and minor injuries. Authorities have collected video evidence, images, and DNA samples as part of the investigation.

The girl managed to escape from Smith and return to the hotel. It remains unclear whether CPS staff were aware of her absence.Police were alerted to the situation around 5 a.m. on Febuary 14 by a CPS staff member.

DFPS Response and Investigation

Following the incident, DFPS stated that the girl received immediate medical attention and has since been moved to a secure, authorized placement, removing her from the CWOP program. Marissa Gonzales,DFPS Communications Director,emphasized the agency’s commitment to child safety and ongoing efforts to ensure appropriate placements for all children in their care.

In response to the incident, personnel at the CWOP headquarters have been reassigned to office duties while an internal investigation is conducted.

CWOP program Under Scrutiny

The Children Without Placement (CWOP) program has faced notable criticism from child welfare advocates and a federal judge, who have raised concerns about the vulnerability of children within the system. The program,intended as a short-term solution for children entering or re-entering state custody,has been stretched beyond its original purpose,particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when placements for children with mental health needs became scarce.

Attorney Paul Yetter, who represents children in a long-standing federal lawsuit against the Texas Child Welfare System, described the incident as “another tragedy in our reception system,” emphasizing that such incidents should not occur in a state with Texas’s resources. He added, These children are still lost and in serious danger.

Since 2020, Texas has spent over $100 million on the CWOP program, according to public records. While the state has substantially reduced the number of children in CWOP from a peak of 400 per night in 2021, twenty-eight children were still in CWOP care earlier this week.

Past Incidents and Systemic Issues

Reports from federal judicial observers have detailed numerous issues within CWOP facilities, including children running away, injuries, altercations between children, and assaults by security personnel. Disturbingly,there have also been reports of a child engaging in sexual activity with a hotel staff member.

This is not the first time concerns about potential trafficking have been raised regarding CWOP facilities. Attorneys representing children have previously complained that the hotels used for CWOP are often located in areas with high rates of sex trafficking. For exmaple, attorney Emily Miller wrote to a Travis County judge two years ago, stating, My minor client was able to leave the room and the hotel itself and was able to sexually traffic in a matter of one hour.

Other lawyers have reported instances of their child clients being trafficked from rental houses contracted by the state for CWOP purposes.

The Broader Context: Child Trafficking Statistics

The near-trafficking of this 11-year-old girl highlights a grim reality: children in foster care are particularly vulnerable to exploitation. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), runaways are at a significantly higher risk of trafficking, and children in foster care are disproportionately represented among runaways.While precise statistics on trafficking specifically from CWOP programs are tough to obtain, the anecdotal evidence and concerns raised by legal professionals paint a concerning picture.

“Children in foster care are particularly vulnerable to trafficking due to a number of factors, including a history of abuse or neglect, instability in their living situations, and a lack of strong support networks.”
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)