CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Police said they have arrested a man in connection with the Tuesday stabbing death of a case worker for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services at a home near Springfield.
Investigators said 36-year-old Deidre Silas was attacked around 4 p.m. as she was checking on six children, ages 1 to 7, in a home in Thayer, a small town about 20 miles south of Springfield, according to the Sangamon County sheriff’s office.
"In this tragic circumstance, the family we were there to help had a negative response to our presence," said DCFS Director Marc Smith. "We are not avoiding any responsibility. At DCFS we take responsibility for all of our staff, as well as the children and family that we serve.”
Police said 32-year-old Benjamin H. Reed, who lived in the home and is the father of the children Silas was assigned to check on, was arrested just before 6:30 p.m. and was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and unlawful restraint in connection with the attack.
Investigators said he was found at a hospital in Decatur, where he was being treated for a minor injury.
DCFS Director Marc Smith was asked about whether his agency knew of any threat of violence at the home and if Silas was given adequate protection.
"I can't speak specifically to any details of this case. It is my understanding that protocols were followed and then a tragedy occured," Smith said.
Though to reporters, it sounded like the same old story: overwhelmed case workers in an understaffed department. But, Smith begged to differ.
"The staffing level does not impact directly if workers go in pairs or not. Workers do not traditionally go in pairs. They can step up the level of support they receive depending on the level of concern they have for the environment of which they are walking into," Smith said. "In these types of situations, we do not know exactly what's going to happen and in this circumstance a tragedy did occur."
None of the children were injured and they were taken into the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
“The Department of Children and Family Services is deeply saddened by the tragic death of our colleague, Deidre Silas. Our most heartfelt condolences, thoughts, and prayers are with her family during this difficult time,” DCFS Director Marc Smith said in a statement. “Social work is more than just a job, it is a calling. Deidre responded to this call and dedicated herself to the children, families and communities she served, and we will be forever grateful for her work. She was an incredible person, and her brightness and positivity will be missed not only by her family and friends, but also her second family at DCFS.”
Silas had just begun working for DCFS last August after spending more than seven years with the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, according to the union that represents state workers.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said it was reviewing the circumstances of the stabbing to determine if more needs to be done to protect child welfare workers.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder that frontline DCFS employees like Deidre do demanding, dangerous, and essential jobs every day, often despite inadequate resources and tremendous stress,” said Roberta Lynch, executive director of AFSCME Council 31. “One death in the line of service is too many.
“We are heartbroken,” she added in a statement. “Deidre dedicated her career to helping young people.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker released a statement calling Silas a “hero.”
“There is no higher calling than the work to keep children and families safe and Deidre lived that value every single day,” the Governor said. “Our most vulnerable are safer, because she chose to serve. I can think of no more profound legacy.”
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(WBBM Newsradio and the Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this copy.)