DCF report: more could have been done

TAMPA - A 13 page review conducted by the Department of Children and Families concluded more could have been done to protect teen mom Jasmine Bedwell and her baby boy Emanuel Murray.

"I think one of the main things we learned from this investigation is we need to be very very careful to know who is around children whether their our foster kids or kids of our foster kids," DCF Regional Director Nick Cox said.

Bedwell, just months shy of turning 18, had been participating in DCF's independent living program, which allows some foster teens to live on their own with support.

Now the agency is questioning whether Bedwell was an appropriate candidate for independent living.

"The part of having Richard McTear involved in it introduces, like I said, a whole other animal into this thing," Cox said. "Had we accessed all of that together maybe we might have thought twice about whether she needed to be living on her own as well."

While many details in the report remain confidential, it does reveal Bedwell's tormented relationship with ex-boyfriend McTear. The teen says McTear beat her twice and at least one time in front of the baby, even threatened to come back with a gun.

According to the report, the teen was given a choice about going to a domestic violence shelter, but never did.

Then on May 4, police say McTear kidnapped Emanuel Murry and threw the infant out a moving car as he drove down Interstate 275.

McTear is being held without bond on a string of charges including first degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated child abuse.

DCF's report states "staff overestimated Ms. [Bedwell's] ability to sever her relationship with Mr. McTear in order to protect herself and her child" and the "prospective risk of harm to Emanuel was underestimated."

Kayla Marinez is Bedwell's friend and neighbor. She says there is no doubt in her mind Jasmine did everything she could to protect her baby.

"She was a good mom, she was a good mom everywhere she went that baby was with her no matter what," Marinez said.