PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — State lawmakers pushing for better protection in the Pennsylvania child welfare system say the bills they’re introducing are in honor of a 14-year-old who was murdered by her adoptive mother.
Grace Packer was raped and murdered by her adoptive mother and her mother’s boyfriend in 2016.
In 2019, the Inspector General’s office opened an investigation, but Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub said the report from that investigation is overdue.
“We have now been waiting for it for two-and-a-half years," said Weintraub.
He is urging support for a series of bills from State Representatives Chris Quinn (R-Delaware County) and Craig Staats (R-Bucks County).
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Quinn says Sara Packer, Grace’s adoptive mother, worked in the child welfare system.
“She knew its weaknesses, where the gaps were that enabled her to stay one step ahead of the agencies by simply moving to a different county," said Quinn.
"The child welfare agency in their new county of residence did not have access to the history of their former county. What should have been a sign was either ignored or dismissed.”
One of those bills would require a statewide database for child welfare case management. Quinn pointed out a 2014 law mandated the database, but it has yet to be implemented.
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Another bill would address how and how long records are kept, while a third would clarify language that describe the status of a case.
“Our aim with this legislation is to prevent another child from being lost in this system and condemned to cruelty and even death," said Staats.
“It is imperative we update this system to protect the next Grace Packer.”
Sara Packer pleaded guilty and is serving a life sentence. Her boyfriend Jacob Sullivan was sentenced to death, and died in prison last year.
