Task Force Proposed to Investigate Lucas County Children Services After Tragic Death of Ke’Mani Latigue

TOLEDO, Ohio — In the wake of the heartbreaking death of 5-year-old Ke’Mani Latigue, community leaders in Lucas County are considering the formation of a task force to investigate the operations of Lucas County Children Services. This proposal comes after disturbing allegations that educators had reported concerns about potential abuse involving Ke’Mani multiple times last school year, but these concerns reportedly went unaddressed.

Ke’Mani’s body was discovered on Monday in an abandoned building, days after she had been reported missing. Her father has since been charged with her murder, further intensifying public outrage and calls for reform.

Lucas County Children Services has yet to comment publicly on the specifics of the case, stating that the information is not available at this time. However, a spokesperson confirmed that the agency plans to discuss the case with the media during a scheduled press conference on Friday.

Commissioner Pete Gerken, who is leading efforts to address the growing concerns, expressed the need to rebuild trust between the community and the agency. “This is probably the lowest point that I’ve seen of disconnect between Lucas County Children Services and the community,” Gerken said.

As part of the ongoing efforts to assess the situation, Gerken is expecting more details during a special meeting of the Children Services Board, which will take place Thursday afternoon. He indicated that the commissioners are ready to take action, regardless of whether the board formally requests assistance. The goal, he emphasized, would be to examine not just one case but the system as a whole, to determine how it might have contributed to the tragic unfolding of Ke’Mani’s case.

If formed, the proposed task force would aim to evaluate the effectiveness of Lucas County Children Services and look into how the system responds to reports of abuse. The commissioners are particularly focused on understanding why concerns raised by educators earlier in the year did not lead to immediate intervention.

“The task force is not about just looking at one specific case, but examining how the system works, how it responds to reports, and what can be done to prevent future tragedies,” Gerken added.

While the Children Services agency has been under scrutiny for its handling of this case, the larger issue of reforming the child protection system in Lucas County is gaining significant traction. Leaders are hopeful that a thorough investigation will lead to meaningful changes that will strengthen the agency’s ability to respond to the needs of vulnerable children and rebuild public confidence in its ability to protect the community’s most at-risk residents.

A public discussion of the case is expected to take place on Friday, and 13 Action News will livestream the event, keeping the community informed about any new developments.