Mother of beaten 5-year-old girl files wrongful death lawsuit
Posted:
Updated:
Feb 3, 2012 07:13 PM
Story by: Jordyn Taylor
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Jamie Mercer said she's determined seek justice for her daughter's death. Five-year-old Anna Celeste was beaten to death last year while in the care of her dad and step mother - Wesley and Catherine Lowe.
Mercer said "Celeste" should have never been in her father's care. Mercer said Wesley Lowe kidnapped Celeste after his weekend and visit last year and never returned her home.
"No parent should ever have to go through that, to fight to get their child back," said Mercer. "And so I don't have nothing else to lose."
Mercer said if family services had investigated Lowe's background, custody of her daughter would have never been placed with the father.
"I did not know that her father had a domestic violence charge and a child abuse charge in Nebraska," said Lowe. "I had no idea until after Celeste had passed away. I had know idea that Catherine Lowe had a charge of cruelty to animals until Celeste passed away."
Mercer has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against, Children and Family Services and the Bossier Parish Sheriff, as well as her daughter's father and stepmother.
"I'm just ready to get the right thing done," said Mercer. "And have people that will just come up and say: you know we should have done our job a lot differently, because maybe she wouldn't have died."
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