Oklahoma Department of Human Services settles suit for $435K

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma Department of Human Services has settled a wrongful-death lawsuit filed against the agency and a dozen child-welfare employees after a 2-year-old girl was killed by her foster mother.

The Oklahoman reports that the department settled the federal lawsuit for $435,000.

Alysa Horney died in December 2013, after her liver was torn by a blow to her body. Her foster mother, 49-year-old Delila Ann Pacheco, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2014.

An internal investigation by the department found that a supervisor who was later demoted failed to have an adequate background check done on Pacheco and didn’t take action after Alysa suffered a bruised face and broken leg at the foster home.

Another supervisor involved in the Alysa’s case resigned, and the girl’s primary care worker retired.