'No Solid Evidence'
Ask ACS to Probe 2-Yr.Old's Death

By HOWARD MEGDAL

Mayor Bloomberg said last week that he has asked Administration for Children's Services Commissioner John B. Mattingly to investigate the department's role in the July 28 death of a two-year-old girl.

JOHN B. MATTINGLY: Checking agency actions.

The agency has said that it received only one call, on June 13, concerning the child, Sharlene Morillo, and that it was anonymous.

ACS Investigating

"This was the first and only report regarding this family," a department spokeswoman said in a statement. "ACS responded promptly, visited the home, investigated the allegations and had the child observed by medical professionals at a Child Advocacy Center to find out more about the safety of this child. There was no solid evidence of abuse. We are now thoroughly investigating this child's tragic death."

The Mayor defended ACS at an Aug. 2 press conference but withheld final judgment on the incident.

"I want to know if something was missed by ACS or if something more could have been done given the information available," he said. "I've asked Commissioner Mattingly to closely review the facts of the case and give me a full report, and he will provide further information to you as it becomes available."

The New York Times reported that the child was examined by a doctor, Jorge Cornielle, on July 12, who determined that it was "evident" she had been beaten. However, he failed to notify ACS, sharing that information only with Montefiore Hospital, which also failed to tell ACS.

Dr. Cornielle said he insisted that the child be taken to the emergency room, and called the hospital 45 minutes later to make sure that had happened.

The hospital declined to speak of the case specifically. Despite the notification failures, the Mayor took responsibility for the circumstances leading to the child's death.

"We all failed this child," he said. "First blush, it looks like ACS did everything that they were supposed to do. The press carries a report of a doctor not informing ACS as the law requires, when the doctor noticed something about the child, and the original call was an anonymous call. But I don't think anybody should forget the fact that a 2-year-old is dead."