Community demands reform after Kei’Mani Latigue’s death

TOLEDO, Ohio — Dozens of community members gathered outside Lucas County Children Services on Monday, calling for accountability and reform following the death of 13-year-old Kei-Mani Latigue, who was killed in Toledo last month.

Protesters say the agency failed to act on previous reports of abuse and are demanding more oversight.

The protest, organized by Jocelyn Finley along with other demonstrators, voiced frustration with what they view as a lack of adequate response from children services.

“Do your job. Don’t get comfortable when you place these kids. Don’t just leave them there,” Finley said during the protest. “If you can’t do it, let somebody else do it.”

Kei’Mani was under the legal custody of her grandmother, Dorothy Latigue.

While it has not been confirmed whether LCCS placed Kei’Mani in that home, the agency did investigate two separate reports of alleged abuse prior to the teen’s death. According to LCCS, neither investigation resulted in a recommendation for removal.

Others at the protest, including Toledo resident Rose Price, said the concerns go beyond Kei’Mani’s case.

Price shared that she has also filed a report with LCCS regarding her own child, but feels she got no help.

“I feel like they failed,” Price said. “I figured they were here to help with things like that, and I don’t feel that I got any help.”

Finley emphasized that protecting children should not be left up to the public.

“It should not be happening. We pay them to protect our kids and they are not doing it,” she said.

Lucas County Children Services declined to comment on the protest when contacted by WTOL 11.

Protesters say they plan to form an official advocacy group and continue pressing the agency for answers and systemic changes.