February
24, 2000:
Social
Services
confirms that Chanco has physically abused her then 7-year-old son.
August
13,
2002:
A person
caring
for Chanco's then 11-year-old boy alleges that Chanco has abused and
neglected
her son, and requests power of attorney. According to documents,
Chanco,
unemployed and five months pregnant, had left the child with the
caretaker
a month earlier while trying to secure housing. Social Services
initially
cannot contact Chanco because her phone number at a Noeau Street home
is
disconnected. Social Services later contacts Chanco, who agrees to give
power of attorney to the caretaker. Chanco is attending weekend classes
on paralegal work at Chaminade University.
December
2002:
Chanco
marries a
man known to be a drug dealer. She also gives birth to a boy. However,
her new husband is not the boy's father, but the boy carries his name.
December
28,
2002:
During a
routine
traffic stop, police officers find Chanco's 11-year-old son with a man
identified only as Chanco's friend. Police officers find drugs
allegedly
in the man's possession and give the child to his Hanai aunt, Chanco's
brother's ex-girlfriend. Chanco, who denies knowing her friend had
drugs
on him, says she left her son with him when she went on an errand with
her newborn.
January
7,
2003:
Chanco
visits the
home of a relative, who notices Chanco almost dropping the newborn baby
and says the baby's head was "flopping all around." She also says the
baby's
formula was "way too hot" when Chanco tried to feed him. Chanco also
allegedly
made statements that she did not want to keep the baby.
January
9,
2003:
A
complaint is filed
against Chanco and her then husband that they allegedly have neglected
and abused her 11-year-old son and a newborn. Social Services later
concludes
that a protective services investigation is necessary because of
Chanco's
and her husband's drug history and signs showing she is becoming
detached
from her newborn.
January
13,
2003:
Child
Protective
Services contacts officials with Heeia Elementary School, where one of
Chanco's children is enrolled. The principal tells them the child is
attending
school every day and doing well. The child is back with his mother.
However,
school officials say his aunt has been his primary caregiver for most
of
his life.
May
5, 2003:
Chanco,
who says
she is sober, tells Child Protective Services she will make appropriate
child care arrangements in the future. Child Protective Services warns
there could be an intervention involving Family Court if there are
future
complaints.
February
7,
2006:
Chanco
gives birth
to her third child, Cyrus Belt.
February
9,
2006:
Child
Protective
Services confirms there is a threat of abuse and neglect of Cyrus Belt
by his mother. The case is referred to Home-Based Support Services.
April
11, 2006:
The
Home-Based Support
Services closes Chanco's case. In a report dated May 16 written by a
family
services assistant, Chanco is described as an "attractive and
intelligent
woman" who seems to be an "intuitive parent." Chanco worked as a
surgical
technician with a dental surgeon and had hoped to return to the same
job,
the report says. Chanco lives with her father and stepmother, her
boyfriend,
her landlord's son and his girlfriend in a home. Chanco's other two
minor
children do not live with her.
May
26, 2006:
An
anonymous caller
reports concerns over Chanco and her family, saying they live in a
"notorious
drug house" and that Chanco is not home often and leaves Cyrus with his
grandfather. The caller says the family might have "run out of money"
and
wonders whether there is enough food at home.
June
6, 2006:
A
neighbor calls
a state child welfare hot line and says Chanco leaves Cyrus alone for
three
to four days at a time with his grandfather, who is elderly and
incapable
of caring for the newborn.
June
16, 2006:
A
relative files
a complaint against Chanco, alleging that she leaves Cyrus with his
grandfather
while she uses drugs. The aunt also alleges that Chanco uses her
welfare
checks to purchase drugs and that the house has no electricity for at
least
two days. The family also allegedly fights frequently, presumably in
front
of Cyrus. Chanco had called the aunt for help, and after not hearing
from
Chanco in two days, the aunt called the Department of Human Services.
June
19, 2006:
Cyrus --
then 4
months old -- is placed in foster care for four days after police
officers
allege that Chanco has put her child in danger because her drug
problems
prevent her from caring for him properly.
August
10,
2006:
Child
Protective
Services closes the case for Chanco, saying she has been consistent in
unannounced home meetings with a family services assistant.
In a
report, the
Department of Human Services notes through several home visits, the
"home
has been deemed safe and mother/child has a strong, secure and happy
bond."
July
2, 2007:
Child
Protective
Services terminates services, closing the case, for Chanco.
January
11,
2008:
A
complaint is filed
against Chanco, alleging that there has been a threat of abuse and
neglect
of Cyrus. Child Protective Services reopens the Chanco case and
forwards
the case to Voluntary Case Management Services. The report notes that
there
have been no immediate safety issues identified and that the family is
facing challenges that could be controlled by Chanco's substance abuse
treatment and other relatives for help.
Thursday
(January
17, 2008)
Cyrus
dies after
being thrown onto the H-1 freeway from a pedestrian bridge. Earlier
that
day, Cyrus is found wandering by police, who bring him back to his
grandfather.
The grandfather allows a neighbor to take Cyrus for a walk, according
to
police, which leads to his death.
The
report notes
that the suspect, Matthew Higa, appears to have mental health issues
and
has been observed "spitting, kicking and behaving irrationally."
In an
interview with
officials at the Queen's Medical Center, Chanco says she has been sober
for a long time and is willing to take a drug test to prove it. She
promises
to never allow any of her children to go off with anyone again.
Return
To Cyrus's Story
Read
About Memorials And The Funeral For Cyrus
Read
A Timeline Of Events Surrounding The life Of Cyrus
|
