Child welfare officials will investigate the death of a 5-day-old foster boy from dog bites in the home of a Roseville foster family where he was placed just days before. 

          Demetrius Marcellus Tucker Jr. died Saturday after the foster family's dog, a shepherd-mix, picked the baby up by his head, inflicting puncture wounds, and carried him a short distance. 

          Four other foster children in the home were placed with Placer County Child Protective Services. Both CPS and the Roseville police are investigating the circumstances of the death.

          The baby's mother, Tamara Newton of Sacramento, said her son was taken from her in the hospital on Wednesday by Sacramento County child welfare officials following the baby's birth on Monday. Newton's four other children are in other foster homes.

          Newton said Sunday that she would have preferred the infant be placed with the paternal grandmother if Sacramento County officials didn't want her to have custody. She said she disputed their past allegations of abuse.

          "He wouldn't have been hurt if he'd had been with me," said Newton, 29. "I keep wondering in my mind, how could they let something like this happen. She did not protect my son."

          Roseville police said the foster mother stepped out onto the backyard patio and the dog entered the house and picked up the baby. Roseville Police Sgt. Mike Blaire said Sunday the investigation is continuing but so far, it appears the death was "a tragic accident." 

          Jim Hunt, director of Sacramento County's Health and Human Services Department, said his agency is awaiting the investigations of the circumstances of the death by Placer County and Roseville officials. He said the home was licensed by Aspira Foster and Family Services, an agency used in the past by Sacramento County to supervise foster homes. The agency is conducting its own investigation.

          "This is devastating. Any time something like this happens to one of the children in our care, there's a tragic ripple throughout the agency and the system," said Hunt. He said the death raises the question of whether there should be a policy on pets in foster homes. 


All content © 1999 The Sacramento Bee and may not be republished without permission.