An Investigation Into Arkansas Child Welfare Accountability
"What kids are missing, from where, when, and who was in control when it happened?"
This page maps Arkansas DHS and DCFS leadership alongside documented child deaths, disappearances, and public data. Every number comes from federal reports, state audits, court records, and NCMEC data. We document the connections and ask the questions.
Arkansas DHS organizational structure for child welfare oversight.
Source: 28 NCANDS Federal Reports (cm99-cm2023). Federal Fiscal Years.
| Year | Deaths | Rate/100K | Governor | DHS Director | DCFS Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 9 | 1.36 | Huckabee | Knickrehm | UNKNOWN |
| 2001 | 22 | 3.22 | Huckabee | Knickrehm | UNKNOWN |
| 2002 | 13 | 1.92 | Huckabee | Knickrehm | UNKNOWN |
| 2003 | 10 | 1.47 | Huckabee | Knickrehm | UNKNOWN |
| 2004 | 12 | 1.77 | Huckabee | Knickrehm | UNKNOWN |
| 2005 | 16 | 2.34 | Huckabee | Selig | Huddleston |
| 2006 | 19 | 2.73 | Huckabee | Selig | Huddleston |
| 2007 | 20 | 2.86 | Beebe | Selig | Huddleston |
| 2008 | 21 | 2.99 | Beebe | Selig | Huddleston |
| 2009 | 13 | 1.73 | Beebe | Selig | Blucker |
| 2010 | 19 | 2.68 | Beebe | Selig | Blucker |
| 2011 | 12 | -- | Beebe | Selig | Blucker |
| 2012 | 33 | -- | Beebe | Selig | Blucker |
| 2013 | 29 | -- | Beebe | Selig | Blucker |
| 2014 | 21 | 2.65 | Beebe | Selig | Blucker |
| 2015 | 40 | -- | Hutchinson | Selig | Blucker |
| 2016 | 42 | -- | Hutchinson | Gillespie | Martin |
| 2017 | 37 | -- | Hutchinson | Gillespie | Martin |
| 2018 | 44 | -- | Hutchinson | Gillespie | Martin |
| 2019 | 35 | -- | Hutchinson | Gillespie | Wright |
| 2020 | 30 | 4.29 | Hutchinson | Gillespie | Wright |
| 2021 | 36 | -- | Hutchinson | Gillespie | Wright |
| 2022 | 39 | -- | Hutch/Sanders | Gillespie/White | Wright |
| 2023 | 33 | 4.68 | Sanders | Putnam | Wright |
2018 had the highest recorded count at 44. The rate per 100K increased from 1.36 (1999) to 4.68 (2023). Question: What factors drove the increase, and what reforms were attempted?
1,100-acre facility north of Pocahontas near MO state line. Staff counselor Emmett Presley committed serial sexual abuse of boys. Children sent from IL, AK, IN, TX and AR by state agencies. 30-35 identified victims, 40+ more reported.
Ted Suhl convicted of federal healthcare fraud and bribing a state senator. Sentence commuted by President Trump in August 2019. After commutation, Suhl's attorney sought to reopen the facility's license. License remained inactive until 2021.
Lawsuit filed by Romanucci & Blandin (Chicago), assigned to U.S. District Judge Price Marshall.
Killed June 1, 1999 (drowned in bathtub by foster mother Wanda Faye Richart). DHS had previously removed Christina's brothers from the same home. Christina remained. Her death was not discovered for approximately 6 years -- records showed her as having moved to California. DHS Director at the time: Kurt Knickrehm.
Approximately 35 children placed by DHS with Clarence "Charlie" Garretson over 7 years. Abuse reports were filed in Aug 1997, Jan 2003, Jul 2004, and Apr 2006. DHS revoked the foster care license in 2004. Criminal charges came later at the federal level. Located in Logan County (DCFS Area II), which had a 30% caseworker vacancy rate. Garretson was sentenced to life in federal prison and did not appeal.
State Rep. Justin Harris adopted two sisters (ages 3 and 5) from foster care, then gave them to Eric Francis, who sexually abused one girl. Local caseworkers reportedly had concerns about the placement. DCFS Director at the time was Cecile Blucker. Francis sentenced to 40 years. Both 2025 appeals denied.
Nonprofit Preferred Family Healthcare bribed AR lawmakers for state behavioral health contracts serving children. Robin Raveendran pled guilty to bribing state senator Jeremy Hutchinson (nephew of Gov. Asa Hutchinson). DHS shifted 6 contracts away. Suspended from Medicaid. Couple sentenced to pay $4M (2024).
| State | Total Missing | Still Active | Rate/100K | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 1,377 | 81 | 22.2 | 2.5x NATIONAL AVG |
| Texas | 2,508 | 157 | 8.2 | -- |
| Illinois | 950 | 92 | 7.5 | -- |
| Oklahoma | 314 | 34 | 7.9 | -- |
| Arkansas | 244 | 21 | 8.1 | -- |
Springfield/Joplin is an identified trafficking hotspot on I-44. These 5 states = 18.2% of ALL missing children reports nationally.
90.7% female trafficking victims. Black girls are the #1 target (35.8% of victims despite 14% of child population -- 2.6x overrepresented). Native American children 1.8x overrepresented. Peak age: 15-17 (68.9% of all missing).
Arkansas infant mortality rate: 7.77/1,000 (37% above national average of 5.67). County-level data is limited -- 52 of 75 counties had fewer than 20 infant deaths over the 7-year reporting period (2017-2023), which is below the statistical reliability threshold used by County Health Rankings. Deaths are counted by county of residence, not where death occurred.
| County | IM Rate | vs National | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phillips | 13.44 | 2.4x | Delta county, limited healthcare access |
| St. Francis | 13.20 | 2.3x | Delta county, limited healthcare access |
| Randolph | 12.14 | 2.1x | Near Lord's Ranch facility |
| Logan | 11.62 | 2.0x | DCFS Area II |
| Union | 10.00 | 1.8x | -- |
| Crittenden | 9.80 | 1.7x | -- |
Some rural counties show elevated child mortality rates but fall below the 20-death threshold for infant-specific reporting. Small numbers produce statistically unreliable rates. Further research is needed to understand what is driving these rates.
| County | Child Mortality/100K | Infant Data Available |
|---|---|---|
| Scott | 136.25 | Below 20-death threshold |
| Little River | 135.00 | Below 20-death threshold |
| Izard | 119.75 | Below 20-death threshold |
Questions: Are elevated rates in rural counties driven by healthcare access, poverty, distance to hospitals, or other factors? Does the lack of county-level data make it harder to identify children at risk?
When someone reports child abuse, DHS decides whether to investigate. Increasingly, they choose not to.
| Year | Screened In | Screened Out | Total | % Screened Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 33,755 | 25,539 | 59,294 | 43% |
| 2020 | 31,429 | 22,922 | 54,351 | 42% |
| 2021 | 30,592 | 24,518 | 55,110 | 44% |
| 2022 | 31,923 | 25,416 | 57,339 | 44% |
| 2023 | 34,677 | 29,055 | 63,732 | 46% |
| Q1 2025 | 9,042 | 7,438 | 16,480 | 45% |
Screening out means a report was received but did not meet the criteria for a formal investigation. The screened-out rate has risen from 43% (2019) to 46% (2023). Question: What are the screening criteria, and have they changed? Are children falling through the gap between "reported" and "investigated"?
Federal law requires regular visits to children in foster care. Arkansas is failing.
| Period | Foster Care Visits | In-Home Visits | DHS Secretary | DCFS Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2024 | 86.2% | 80.7% | Putnam | Wright |
| Jan 2025 | 82.0% | 75.3% | Putnam | Wright |
| Apr 2025 | 78.5% | 70.1% | Putnam | Wright |
| Jul 2025 | 76.1% | 67.8% | Putnam/Mann | Wright |
| Oct 2025 | 74.3% | 65.2% | Mann | Wright |
| Jan 2026 | 72.8% | 63.6% | Mann | Wright |
| Goal | 95% | 85% | -- | -- |
917 foster children were not visited within the required timeframe in January 2026. The federal goal is 95% monthly visitation. Arkansas was at 72.8%. Question: What is preventing workers from making these visits?
DHS OIG Report OIG-24-46 documented ~323,000 unaccompanied children unaccounted for between Oct 2018 and Sept 2023. 27 confirmed dead. 400+ sponsors arrested.
Arkansas connection: PSSI found 102 children (ages 13-17) cleaning slaughterhouses at JBS, Tyson, and Cargill plants. NW Arkansas is the highest per-capita poultry processing concentration in the nation. Fort Chaffee has historical precedent as a refugee processing center.
| Gap | Why It Matters | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| DCFS Directors 1995-2008 | Who ran child welfare during Angela R., Garretson, Christina Richart? | AR State Archives, FOIA |
| Names of 614+ dead children | WHO died, WHERE, under WHOSE caseworker? | AR DHS fatality reports, FOIA |
| County-level missing data | Which counties are children disappearing FROM? | NCMEC data request, FOIA |
| Lord's Ranch full victim list | All children placed there, all abuse documented | PACER case documents |
| SUID by county (ICD-10) | SIDS deaths in investigation counties | CDC WONDER interactive query |
| The 4 children who died ~2008-2009 | Names, counties, circumstances that triggered reform | Child fatality review records |
"614+ children died in state care over 24 years. 917 were not visited in a single month. 29,055 reports were screened out in one year. This page documents what the public data shows. The connections are documented. The questions remain open."
Last Updated: 2026-02-24 | Full Research File | Deep Research Data