MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Family members of a two-year-old who prosecutors said was killed by his own mother have been planning the toddler’s funeral.
Although arrangements are still pending, relatives said the funeral for Jermyle Campbell would likely be Saturday.
His mother Raven Campbell was charged with his murder, but some wondered whether his death could have been prevented.
WREG spoke with a state lawmaker who said even after reform, too many children fall through the cracks.
“If the child is dead, we’ve got some questions to ask ourselves,” said Representative John Deberry who spoke with WREG Tuesday.
The legislator called the On Your Side Investigators after seeing our story about the Campbell family history with law enforcement, courts and DCS.
He sponsored a bill that became law last year forcing more change and transparency at the Department of Children’s Services.
Yet he said the death of two year old Jermyle, whose mother Raven admitted to biting, scratching and smothering the toddler, serves as another example of a child falling through the cracks.
“It does no good for everybody to simply do their job, but the job is not getting done,” Rep. Deberry told WREG.
Neither Juvenile Court or DCS would elaborate on decisions made regarding the care and custody of Jermyle Campbell.
However, court records made it apparent, more than one person thought the child was in danger.
“At some point in time, somebody should have made a decision that this child cannot stay in this dangerous home,” said Deberry.
Records also revealed a relative tried to get custody of Campbell when she was a teen.
Police and fire responded to the family home more than 50 times in the past two years.
In Jermyle’s short life there were battles over his guardianship.
Less than a year after the child was born, his grandmother petitioned for custody.
She was granted temporary custody with Campbell getting supervised visits.
It’s not clear how that worked since they lived at the same house.
With that petition thrown out, Campbell kept the child.
Yet later that same month, a relative tried to get custody of Jermyle.
A full year hasn’t passed, and now the child is gone.
“It simply means we’ve got to sit down again and all of our attempts to do right and we know it’s a hard job, it’s a very hard job, but we’ve got to do it better,” Deberry said.
Deberry said he’s spoken directly with officials from DCS and he’s confident the agency will conduct a thorough investigation.
He said he’s proud of the changes DCS and Juvenile Court have made in recent years, but Campbell’s death serves as a reminder that the work may not be complete.
