GASTON COUNTY, N.C.,None — A 32-year-old mother has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, felony child abuse, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor relating to the death of 2-year-old Addison Lanham.
SLIDESHOW: Photos Of Addison Lanham
Gaston County's Department of Social Services held a closed-door, executive session meeting Thursday afternoon to discuss its involvement with Addison's case. All five Gaston County Department of Social Services board members attended the meeting.
After the meeting, board members were confident that DSS did everything correctly, but they also expressed frustration that they couldn't get into specifics about how they had tried to intervene.
"I've taken an oath to honor and obey the law. And that's the law, whether I like it or not. And I would rather, honestly, I would rather like to say more, and they all would like to say more, but we're not at liberty to," DSS board member Tom Keigher said.
Two different relatives of Shanna Lanham's boyfriend, Jason Wells, said they contacted DSS on several occasions, saying they felt 2-year-old Addison was unsafe with Wells, a registered sex offender.
"I have had many tell me they have called DSS," said Wells' aunt, Cindi Glenn.
Eyewitness News asked if Addison's death means investigators didn't do their jobs properly.
"As far as this department doing its due diligence, I'm confident it'll come through that way, that we did everything we were supposed to do," Keigher said.
Keigher says there are unique circumstances to this case that will soon become public record. He said he understands the public's desire for answers.
"I've been witness to a number of these types of tragedies, but this may have been the most heinous. This girl could have been saved," said Keigher.
DSS will present a case summary to the district attorney's office on Friday. That report will become public record, but only when the district attorney certifies the report.
Officials in the District Attorney's office said they didn't know if they'd be able to sign off on it by the end of the day on Friday.
Shanna Lanham is now facing an additional charge. She was charged Thursday afternoon with a probation violation after officers said she failed a drug test at the Gaston County Jail.
More Information: Local DSS Directory Recognizing and Reporting Suspected Abuse and Neglect
Previous Stories: July 28, 2011: Family: Concerns Reported To DSS Before Toddler's Death July 28, 2011: Mother Charged In Girl's Death Begs For Help In 911 Call July 27, 2011: Mother, Boyfriend Face Abuse Charges In Toddler's Death July 27, 2011: Police Investigate Death Of 2-Year-Old Girl July 26, 2011: Police Waiting For Autopsy Results In 2-Year-Old's Death July 23, 2011: Family And Friends Remember 2-Year-Old
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