A legislative watchdog is going to investigate Maine's child welfare system following the brutal beating of a 10-year-old girl whose mother and stepfather are charged in her death.
The Legislature's Government Oversight Committee voted unanimously Friday to launch an investigation into the death of Marissa Kennedy on Feb. 25 in Stockton Springs, along with a separate case of a 4-year-old girl who died in December in Wiscasset.
Republican Sen. Roger Katz of Augusta, a committee co-chairman, said the system failed Kennedy, and added, "We all failed her."
The 10-0 committee vote came a day before the funeral for Kennedy, who will be laid to rest Saturday in Newburgh, New York.
Republican Gov. Paul LePage has said the case highlights problems in Maine's child welfare system and the failure to intervene was a "comedy of errors."
