In re P.J. CA2/4

BACKGROUND

The Family In June 2020, P. (then 6) and M. (then 3) lived with mother in Los Angeles. D. (then 15) was with his father, D.H., in Las Vegas, and T. (then 13) was with her father, C.B., in southern California. The whereabouts of P. and M.’s father (father) were unknown. First 911 Call and Investigation The family came to the attention of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) on June 7, 2020, when the agency received an allegation of general neglect. Per the report, mother called 911 and reported P. had been shot in the head. Responding paramedics and law enforcement officers quickly discovered that P. had not been shot; he and M.

2 were both unharmed. Mother apologized and informed the responders that another of her sons had been shot in the head and killed a few years ago.1 One of the law enforcement officers stated that mother “was rambling” and “redirected the conversation when they tried to get more information.” Mother’s statements “did not make any sense” and she appeared to have urinated on herself. The home was “filthy with clutter and trash everywhere.” The officers thought “something was off” with mother, but did not see a…