10-year-old Valparaiso boy dies while in foster care: Sheriff

VALPARAISO, IND. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Police and the Indiana Department of Child Services are investigating after a 10-year-old boy died while in foster care in Valparaiso last week.

Paramedics and police were dispatched to a home on the 200 block of Falcon Way for what was described as “a medical emergency.”

Dakota Stevens was hospitalized and later died.

The boy’s former foster parent, Hayden Hetzel wrote on Facebook, “The system definitely failed you, my son.”

There have been no allegations of abuse or neglect against the foster care provider.

Police said the case remains under investigation.

A statement from the Department of Child Services said, in part,
"Our entire staff is heartbroken.”

“DCS works with stakeholders and partners across the state to investigate the death of a child any time there is suspected abuse or neglect and will take the appropriate action,” the statement added. “DCS foster parents must complete intensive training and education to achieve licensure.”

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