Judge seeks answers in torture death of 4-year-old Texas girl at hands of heroin-addict guardians

After the death of a 4-year-old Grand Prairie girl, one of the big questions surrounding the case is how the little girl ended up in the care of her mother - a drug abuser who is now charged with her death. FOX 4 spoke to the judge who signed the order, and he wants answers from Child Protective Services.

Family Court Judge William Harris has been on the bench in Tarrant County for 21 years. He says he’s as outraged as anyone when it comes to the death of 4-year-old Leiliana Wright. Police say Leiliana died after a heroin-fueled torture session by her mother, Jeri Quezada, and her mother’s boyfriend, Charles Philfer.

he paternal grandparents, Jerry and Alisa Clakley, told FOX 4 there were many missed opportunities to help Leiliana. They say she often appeared battered and bruised.

In December 2014, the grandparents went to court expecting a hearing before Judge Harris' associate judge, Diane Haddock - hoping to get temporary custody.

“We never got the chance to go and see this judge,” said Alisa. “She didn't let us step into her courtroom, because we were grandparents.

Judge Harris says the reason that hearing didn't happen is because attorneys on both sides said the parties reached an agreement - giving Quezada custody and the Clakley's visitation.

“The associate judge did not hear a word of evidence and did not have one document admitted into evidence,” said Harris. “[She] based her recommendations solely on the representations of all of the parties and all of the attorneys of record.”

Harris says Quezada’s arrest record was not offered into evidence. He says he still has questions of his own.

Police say when they were called on March 13th, Leiliana was not breathing and had bruising from head to toe. At first, Quezada, 30, told police her daughter was hurt falling in the shower.

Eventually, police say, she admitted to shooting heroin and then repeatedly hitting the little girl on March 12 with a belt and a bamboo stick after the child drank her 18-month-old brother’s juice. Quezada also blamed her boyfriend, Charles Phifer.

Quezada told police that Phifer tied the girl up in a closet with her wrists tied behind her back, preventing her from sitting down. Later in the evening, Quezada told police that when Leiliana had trouble swallowing, she began to slap her on the chest and hit her on the head while telling her to swallow her food.

At one point, police say Phifer shoved the little girl against a piece of drywall in the closet. Her body left an indentation in the wall.

eddie wrote:Why didn't her grandparents take her away from them?
So many times I wonder this about abused children.

Original Quill wrote:

eddie wrote:Why didn't her grandparents take her away from them?
So many times I wonder this about abused children.

I think the judge fooked up.  The standard for children is supposed to be 'welfare of the child' and yet the judge allowed an agreement to prevail without looking into it.  

Very often there is confusion between the adversarial system, and independent welfare of children.  But that's no excuse.  It's still judicial malpractice.