Viola Vanclief, 2, Beaten with Hammer, Death Ruled as a Homicide, Foster Parents Arrested

Viola Vanclief's beaten with hammer and coroner rules death as a homicide. Foster parents, Kiana Barker and James Julian, arrested on suspicion of murder.

SHOCK: The death of Viola Vanclief, 2, who was a foster child in the home of Kiana Barker, 30, and her boyfriend, James Julian, 38, has been ruled a homicide by the coroner. The child, who died on March 4, was beaten with a hammer, according to the police. The story is even more tragic because the agency, United Care Inc., which contracts with Los Angeles County to provide shelter for abused and neglected children, has been repeatedly cited in recent years after caregivers choked, hit and beat their charges with a belt, according to the L.A. Times.

Barker and Julian were arrested last week on suspicion of murder in connection with Viola's death, according to Los Angeles police records. They were released two days later, with no charges filed. Police are continuing to investigate the couple.

Barker was decertified as a foster parent last week, and state regulators posted a notice near one of the no trespassing signs outside her house saying that a child-care center license there had been suspended.

Barker told investigators that Viola was trapped in a bed frame when she accidentally struck the child with a hammer while trying to free her, according to coroner's records. Viola had multiple bruises on her body, the records say. The death was deemed a homicide. Source: LA Times

This is another sad case of the parents, foster parents and the system failing these children. To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.