LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Family members of two Bullitt County boys allegedly shot and killed by their mother tell WDRB they filed several Child Protective Service complaints, but nothing was done.
WDRB Investigates reached out to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services about CPS complaints and investigations regarding Tiffanie Lucas.
Lucas is behind bars charged in the murders of her two young sons, 6-year-old Maurice Baker Jr. and 9-year-old Jayden Howard at their Shepherdsville home Nov. 8.
The state denied WDRB's request for the open CPS records on the boys. It said the case is pending and not yet complete.
CHFS wrote, "Because the case is pending investigation, and the release of the records will harm the investigation by releasing information that may prevent the Cabinet from obtaining unbiased evidence, the Cabinet is denying your request."
A request for closed CPS cases about the children was also denied. The state said those records were part of an investigation of reported child abuse and neglect and the information is confidential.
Jayden Howard and Maurice Baker Jr. were killed in the 200 block of Bentwood Drive.
CHFS wrote, "This information cannot be disclosed except to the specified class of people listed in KRS 620.050(5), and you do not fall into any of the authorized categories to receive this confidential information."
Michelle Rice, Maurice Baker Jr.’s step mother, talked to the media following Lucas' court appearance on Tuesday. She said, “We tried to help those boys. We’ve reached out to CPS, and they never helped us. They never helped those boys.”
Jayden Howard's family told WDRB News, they also filed CPS complaints against Lucas and nothing was done.
That family said when they went to help clean out her house, it was filthy and there was an eviction notice on the counter.
Investigators said in court that Lucas, "made statements that she was being manipulated through Facebook, through the internet or through Wi-Fi — being manipulated into doing what she did."
Jayden Howard's family said the 9-year-old's funeral is open to the public. Visitation is from 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at Bates Memorial Baptist Church on Lampton Street in Louisville with his funeral to follow. Jayden will be buried at Green Meadows Cemetery off Shanks Lane in southwest Jefferson County.
Lucas remains behind bars on a $2 million bond.
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