DCFS: Barrington parents neglected dead baby, twin

A Department of Children and Family Services investigation has determined the parents of a 7-month-old Barrington girl reported dead Jan. 8 neglected that baby and her surviving twin sister.

DCFS spokeswoman Karen Hawkins said Friday the now nearly 10-month-old sister of the late Mya G. Edwards is in a foster home, though her parents retain supervised visitation rights.

The ongoing police investigation of Mya Edwards' death is an entirely separate process, Hawkins said. As no criminal charges have resulted from that investigation, it remains inappropriate to name the parents, she said.

Nevertheless, the DCFS finding that there was credible evidence the parents neglected the two girls will be accessible to schools and other such public institutions for the next 50 years, Hawkins said.

In the meantime, the parents are expected to attend regularly scheduled juvenile court hearings to determine the appropriate future care for their surviving daughter, Hawkins said.

The cause of Mya Edwards' death remains under investigation, with the results of medical tests now expected to take three to six months from the time of her inconclusive autopsy, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The original estimate given by Barrington police was six to eight weeks. But officials at the medical examiner's office Friday said they've estimated the longer time frame all along.

After emergency personnel received a 911 call, both girls were found in the family's rented apartment within a single-family home on the 100 block of South Hager Avenue in Barrington.

The surviving twin was transported for medical care at the same time police and paramedics responded to the call of Mya Edwards' death.

At the time, Barrington Fire Chief Jim Arie would say only that the surviving girl's physical status was "concerning."

Since their dual investigations began, police and DCFS officials have declined to comment on the surviving twin's medical condition.

Though this case is the first contact DCFS has had with the family regarding Mya, the agency does have one unfounded neglect report regarding the family from April 2013 - the month before the twins were born.

DCFS also has an "indicated abuse" report from 2002 that also involved a member of the extended family.

The Cook County Major Case Assistance Team has assisted Barrington police on the death investigation.

Barrington police officials could not be reached for comment Friday.