DETROIT – A lawsuit was filed against Michigan Child Protective Services (CPS), alleging employees failed to save a Detroit boy from abuse and neglect.
Chayce Allen, 3, was found dead stuffed in a freezer in his mother’s home on Detroit’s west side in June 2022.
Azuradee France was charged and later sentenced in connection to Allen’s murder.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the estate of Allen. It alleges that while the 3-year-old suffered horrific abuse to where relatives reported France at least 13 times, CPS continued to let France care for Allen.
First reports of abuse
CPS was made aware that Allen was being abused by France on Nov. 17, 2018, when he was two months old.
A CPS investigation report was conducted, noting the allegations of physical abuse and neglect by France against her nephew and her children, including Allen.
France was watching her two-year-old nephew for about two months. When Allen was picked up on Nov. 10, 2018, he had a black eye, a swollen lip, a contusion on his forehead, multiple bruises on his buttocks and rib cage, abrasions on his abdomen, abrasions on his genital area and abrasions on the back of his neck. He was also found to be malnourished, dirty and smelling of urine.
During a home visit, CPS saw that the children did not have beds and there was a rat infestation. CPS also noted that one of France’s older daughters was not going to school despite being kindergarten-age.
Children removed from mother’s care, but returned
CPS filed a petition for the removal of France’s children on Dec. 6, 2018. Allen and his siblings were removed by the Wayne County Third Circuit Court, Family Division.
France got her children back on Nov. 17, 2020. It’s unclear why the children were returned to her care.
Abuse reported soon after children return to mother
Less than two months after France’s children were returned to her care, another abuse allegation was reported, saying there was a troubling pattern of neglect and failure to address the serious risks the children were facing.
CPS responded to investigate the second to third-degree burns on Allen’s hand on Jan. 11, 2021. Investigators said the burn progressed to the point of skin peeling.
CPS also noticed that four of the children shared one bunkbed, the home was cluttered and there was a bottle of bleach without a lid sitting on the floor.
France claimed she took Allen to an urgent care immediately after the incident, but could not provide documentation or discharge papers.
After the visit, France called CPS and admitted she initially lied about taking Allen to urgent care after he was burned because she “did not want her children taken away from her.”
France took Allen to the hospital after CPS became involved. At the hospital, doctors discovered Allen had an abscess on his ankle that required surgery. He was then hospitalized for the abscess.
According to the lawsuit, CPS claims that France was improving, but Allen was severely abused again on Sept. 1, 2021.
France admitted she spanked Allen in a way she acknowledged was excessive. When France asked relatives to pick Allen up, relatives noticed he had a black eye, a gash near the top of his eyebrow and bruised ribs. He reportedly appeared malnourished and kept throwing up after eating and could not keep anything down.
CPS interviewed France at a hotel where she was staying with four of her children, excluding Allen. It’s not clear why France was staying at a hotel. CPS only noted that it was “not adequate or safe” housing for all of her children.
France told CPS she sent Allen to her father’s house. When CPS went to her father’s home, Allen was staying there.
The investigation closed on Oct. 14, 2021.
Child’s death ruled as homicide
Five months later, Allen died.
His body was found stuffed in a freezer in the basement of the home, decomposing in June 2022. Authorities believe he died months earlier based on the condition of his body.
CPS is accused of failing to intervene and protect Allen from an abusive household, where he suffered severe physical and emotional trauma.
A Wayne County medical examiner said the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the 3-year-old’s head. It was ruled a homicide.
France was charged with felony murder, first-degree child abuse, torture and concealing the death of an individual. She was sentenced in July 2024 to at least 35 years in prison.
Lawsuit accuses CPS of negligence
The lawsuit alleges CPS ignored the evidence that showed signs of abuse and neglect.
Local 4 reached out to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for a statement regarding the lawsuit but has not received a response.
According to the lawsuit, CPS met with Allen multiple times with reported bruised ribs, black eyes, third-degree burns, constant vomiting from blows to the chest area and blunt force trauma causing permanent blindness.
