Despite multiple allegations of abuse against Richard Rountree and his girlfriend, Cindy Baker, Illinois DCFS never saw fit to remove his battered 8-year-old daughter, Rica, from their home, accepting their glib explanation for Rica’s cuts, welts, bruises, scars, and countless other injuries: the girl was just “clumsy.”

On January 25, 2019, Rica was rushed to the hospital, unresponsive, with a huge bruise on her abdomen. Despite surgery to repair her internal injuries, Rica died the following day. After a search warrant turned up disturbing videos of Rica’s abuse, Cindy Baker was arrested and charged with murder.

This is the story of a sweet, kind little girl who could make anyone smile and who loved her dolls like they were her own children. It’s also the story of the failure of Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services to protect yet another vulnerable child from targeted and obvious child abuse.

This is part 1 of the horrific story of Rica Rountree.

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