Department of Children and Families changes hotline policy after North Port baby Chance Walsh's death

NORTH PORT -- The Department of Children and Families has created a new policy in the wake of the way the agency handled a Florida Abuse Hotline phone call in the Chance Walsh case.

From now on, if someone calls the hotline with knowledge of a prior child fatality, the counselor is required to consult a supervisor. In this case, a call was "screened out," when DCF admits it should have been sent for investigation.

Walsh is the newborn found in a shallow grave in October. North Port police say his father, Joseph Walsh, beat him to death. The baby's mother, Kristen Bury, is also charged in connection with the crime.

Just a day after Chance was born, one of Bury's acquaintances called the Florida Abuse Hotline to report Chance was in danger.

"I just think something bad is going to happen," said the anonymous caller. "Like what happened last time with her baby."

DCF records show the couple's last child, Duane Walsh, died after kidney problems.

The caller went on to say she knew Chance's mother was on drugs and the family was not fit to have another child. She told the hotline operator she tried to call the hospital to make a report, but workers there gave her the hotline number.

"These people are not stable," the caller said. "They shouldn't have a child. They shouldn't even be letting this child go home with them."

The caller also told the hotline counselor the couple was living in a hotel because their house burned down. She said it was the result of a meth lab explosion.

However, the hotline counselor told the caller there wasn't enough proof to start an investigation into the parents.

"They're flying under the radar somehow, and it's really scaring me because I don't want another child to pass away," said the caller.

Nine weeks later, Chance was dead.

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Department of Children and Families changes hotline policy after North Port baby Chance Walsh's death ."