Staff Report

AUGUSTA — The siblings of Eleanora McLaughlin, the one-year-old girl who was found unresponsive and died of hypothermia in Milford while in the custody of her father last December, are in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) following a custodial dispute. Their grandmother, Michele Dupuis, has been arrested and charged with criminal restraint after allegedly refusing visitation to the children’s father over concerns for their safety. McLaughlin’s two siblings had been in the custody of their grandmother following her death.

DHHS had previously been involved with McLaughlin’s family, closing the case on Dec. 22, only days before Eleanora was found frozen to death in deplorable conditions on Dec. 28. Eleanora’s siblings had to be rushed to the hospital, with one in serious condition. When Republican members of the Government Oversight Committee (GOC) reached out to DHHS seeking answers on its role in the case, they were met with the usual response that the department is legally unable to comment.

These developments come as DHHS faces continued scrutiny over its handling of child welfare cases, including the 2022 killing of 3-year-old Makinzlee Handrahan in Edgecomb. Just last month, Tyler Witham-Jordan was convicted of depraved indifference murder in that case. DHHS also had prior contact in that case after Handrahan’s day care reported signs of abuse.

“More children with Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) involvement have died in the last five years than the previous 14 years combined,” said Sen. Jeff Timberlake, R-Androscoggin, the Senate Republican Lead on the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee. “How many more children do we have to lose before DHHS starts taking responsibility for these countless preventable tragedies?”

“Just last week, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner stated the cause of death for Eleanora McLaughlin was accidental and caused by hypothermia. The home reportedly had no heat or running water,” said Sen. Brad Farrin, R-Somerset. “DHHS knew the home was not safe, yet they still closed the family’s case just days prior to her death. There is nothing accidental about how the three McLaughlin children were treated.”

“Time and again, we see the same heartbreaking pattern: Warning signs are raised, DHHS is involved and still vulnerable children fall through the cracks,” said Sen. Stacey Guerin, R-Penobscot. “Maine families deserve a child welfare system that acts with urgency, accountability, transparency and, most importantly, competency before another life is lost.”