BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — To Kirsten Larson, 4-year-old Joy King Castro was hard to forget.
“She was really smart,” Larson said. “I thought she was pretty funny.”
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Larson was Castro’s case worker and was with Brevard Cares, an agency associated with Brevard Family Partnership. Both agencies manage and place children in foster care.
READ: Case manager pens letter addressing issues with foster care after death of 4-year-old
While Larson said Joy often lived up to her name, she also had behavioral issues.
Larson said Castro was shuffled around until she was placed in 41-year-old Lakeisha Mitchell’s home in June.
Mitchell told Larson she did not know about Castro’s behavioral issues.
READ: Brevard County foster mom behind bars after child found unconscious in tub dies
On Aug. 23, Larson got a call from Mitchell saying Castro wasn’t breathing.
Investigators said that day, Mitchell beat Castro so severely she went into a coma then died two days later.
Larson said she was only told then, at the hospital, that Mitchell had children in her care prior to Castro who were removed over allegations of abuse just weeks before.
READ: Family attorney of 4-year-old killed in Brevard County foster care pursuing legal action
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