(Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
Corrine McKeever, left, and her daughter Amirah Griffin, next door neighbors of Banita Jacks, stand outside their home in southeast Washington on Fri, Jan. 11, three days after Jacks' four daughters were found dead in her home. Jacks has been charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of her children. "I was devastated (by the news)," says McKeever, whose daughter says she reported a smell this fall, "It's so close, and I never heard anything. If I'd known I would have done something."

Karen Mahabir, The Associated Press
2008-01-11 20:10:00.0
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A mother found in her home with the decomposing bodies of her four daughters was suspected by a social worker of holding one of the girls hostage as early as April, city officials said Friday. An investigation into the family was closed weeks later because child and family welfare officials thought the family had moved to Maryland - even though authorities there couldn't locate the family.

"It's completely unclear why they made that determination," said Carrie Brooks, spokeswoman for Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. The city is continuing to investigate.

The bodies of the girls - ages 5 to 17 - were found Wednesday when deputy U.S. marshals served an eviction notice at the apartment in southeast Washington. Banita Jacks was charged Thursday with four counts of first-degree murder after reportedly telling investigators that the children were possessed by demons and died in their sleep.

The oldest girl, Brittany Jacks, stopped attending classes in early March. A social worker from the Booker T. Washington Public Charter School went to the home April 30 and called police after she was denied entry, Fenty said.

The social worker reported that after speaking to Jacks, she appeared to have mental health issues and "that she was possibly holding Brittany hostage by refusing to allow her to attend school," Fenty said. A police officer who responded also was denied entry, but Jacks told him she was home-schooling the children.

Lloyd Nolan, a public defender representing Jacks, said the defense team would have no comment on what Fenty said.

At a news conference Friday, the mayor acknowledged that the city missed numerous opportunities to help Jacks and her children. He said social workers visited the home several more times, but there was no answer when they knocked at the door. He said the case was closed May 16 because they believed the family had moved to Maryland after finding an address of a relative they believed she was living with.

By mid-June, however, Charles County officials were not able to locate the family and "nothing (was) done to reopen the case," D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles said.

A spokeswoman the D.C. Child and Family Services agency referred all calls to the mayor's office. Sabrina Brown, vice president of Local 2401 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents city social workers, said they were extremely overworked and urged people to look for solutions, rather than cast blame.

"We just need to talk, not to blame," she said.

It is unclear when the girls died. The city's medical examiner has said the bodies were likely in the apartment for more than 15 days.

Jacks appeared in D.C. Superior Court on Thursday, and told police that the deaths occurred before a utility turned off her electricity, which prosecutors said was in September 2007, according to charging documents. Jacks could receive a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

Besides Brittany, 17, the charging documents identify the children as Tatianna Jacks, 11; N'Kiah Fogle, 6; and Aja Fogle, 5.

Dozens of toys, fresh flowers and balloons lined a fence outside the home Friday. "Rest in peace" was scrawled in black magic marker on some of the balloons, and a white card read "With Deepest Sympathy." A child's hair dryer, still in its plastic wrapping, was placed nearby.

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Associated Press Writer Sarah Karush contributed to this report.