KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Protesters are demanding changes after a 3-year-old Kansas girl died despite her grandparents raising concerns about her safety with child protective services.
More than 30 people gathered Wednesday near the Kansas Department for Children and Families building in Kansas City, Kansas, chanting that they wanted justice for Olivia Ann Jansen.
The girl’s remains were discovered Friday after her father, Howard Jansen III, reported her missing. The 29-year-old and his 33-year-old girlfriend, Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick, have since been charged with felony murder and other crimes. Authorities haven’t released how she died.
Olivia’s grandparents said they had raised concerns about Olivia in June, after not seeing her since March. The state’s child welfare agency said it is working alongside police during the investigation.
Lacey Langford, who organized the protest, said Olivia might still be alive if lawmakers had passed Adrian’s Act, a bill named for 7-year-old Adrian Jones, who was killed and fed to pigs. The bill would strengthen laws for reporting child abuse.
“The most important thing is we’re not going to give up this time,” Langford said. “We live in a time of movement. We live in a time of change, where we do have a voice.”