REP. NAEGER ASKS GOVERNOR FOR INQUIRY INTO GIRL'S DEATH

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State Rep. Pat Naeger, R-Perryville, called on Gov. Bob Holden Tuesday to seek a investigation into the recent beating death of 3-year-old Ozshana Dukes of Ste. Genevieve, Mo. Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell has also asked for an investigation by the Division of Family Services.

Dukes' death on Jan. 24 allegedly resulted from child abuse at the hands of her mother and the woman's boyfriend, both of whom have been criminally charged.

Naeger said he was prompted to ask the governor for an investigation after news reports in The Ste. Genevieve Herald and numerous calls from constituents indicated that prior to Dukes' death the Division of Family Services had received tips through its child abuse hot line that the girl was being mistreated. Naeger said if family services was aware the girl might be in danger, he wants to know why no action was taken to protect her.

"I am calling upon the governor for a full investigation into the alleged hot line calls to determine if the system is broken and failed at a crucial time when a human life was hanging in the balance," Naeger said.

Jerry Nachtigal, Holden's spokesman, said attorneys within the governor office have received a request for an investigation and are looking into the matter.

'Looking for answers'

Naeger said his goal in asking Holden for an investigation is not to lay blame on the Division of Family Services but to find out the Dukes case was handled properly. If so, Naeger said, an investigation would exonerate family services.

"I'm looking for answers, not sitting here pointing fingers at anybody," Naeger said. "A tragedy has occurred and a lot of rumors an innuendo are floating around. There are people who are really shaken up by this in Ste. Genevieve."

Naeger said he expected to be briefed on the matter by family services officials sometime today.

Maxwell last Thursday asked the division to investigate the Dukes case.

While a member of the Senate year last, Maxwell sponsored the Child Protection Act, which was signed into law by then-Gov. Mel Carnahan. Maxwell's legislation was intended to improve the thoroughness of investigations of reports of child abuse.

Maxwell said he's been told the same Ste. Genevieve resident placed two calls to local authorizes on consecutive days alleging Dukes was being abused. The calls were to the local family services office and the Ste. Genevieve Police Department, both of whom made inquiries, Maxwell said.

"But even though two independent agencies responded, a child still died," Maxwell said.

Maxwell said if officials followed the proper procedures he wants to know why a death still resulted. Maxwell said authorities might learn something from Dukes' death "to tell us how we might save another child."

Denise Cross, director of the Division of Family Services, said she couldn't speak to the specifics of this case, but that a child fatality review team consisting physicians, social workers and others would thoroughly examine the facts surrounding Dukes' death.

Child abuse charged

Dukes' mother, Diane Seymour and her boyfriend, Mark Jeffrey Dickerson, were initially charged with first-degree murder on Jan. 24. However, Ste. Genevieve County Prosecuting Attorney Carl Kinsky said the charges against the two were amended because the evidence did not show premeditation, which is required to prove first-degree murder.

Seymour and Dickerson are each currently charged with five felonies.

Seymour, 23, is charged with two counts of first-degree child abuse, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of child endangerment. Seymour faces a total maximum sentence of 33 years in prison if convicted. She is currently free on $50,000 bond.

Dickerson, 35, is also charged with two counts each of child abuse and armed criminal action. Because he has previous felony convictions on his record, Dickerson faces a total maximum of 80 years in prison on those counts.

Dickerson is also charged with first-degree child abuse leading to the death of a child, which carries a sentence of life in prison.

He was also charged on unrelated outstanding warrants for felony stealing and burglary. Bond for Dickerson was set at $250,000, and he remains in custody.