Redacted Excerpt from Closing Summary

Report of Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services
Death of Bowen Levy

December 23, 2019

Case Number: 4744059153

Closing Summary:

There is evidence of child maltreatment. There is evidence of child neglect. it is the assessment
of this worker that Bowen Levy's death was the result ofa systemic failure at Central Special
School. On November 5, 2019 Bowen choked on a rubber glove while in his classroom at the
end of the school day. He later died due to an extended lack of oxygen to his brain. With well-
known diagnoses of Pica and Autism, Bowen required intensive supervision (1:1 supervision
during instructional time).

It was reported to this worker that Bowen?s classroom typically has one teacher and two
teachers aides assigned to it and that Bowen's 1:1 assigned staff member would also be in the
room. On November 5, 2019 his assigned 1:1 staff member was absent, his teacher left at 12:45
PM, and there were multiple staff who substituted throughout the day. Per the Principal, the
teacher has the autonomv to assign staff to 1:1 coverage within the classroom and if the
teacher is absent, the teacher leaves ?sub plans." One staff member, m, reported
that she did not review the ?sub plans? that dav.

It was also reported by Ms. Owens that Bowen attempted to take and consume two different

rubber gloves while in his classroom in the morning on November 5, 2019, but she intervened
and removed the gloves from his hands and mouth. It is unknown when or where he obtained
the glove that he choked on or when he placed it into his mouth. However, it is known that he
consumed his lunch without issue that day. -

At the time that it was discovered that he was choking, Bowen was in a classroom with six
additional students, one staff member (W, and two high school volunteers

and It is the assessment of this worker that it is more likely than

not that Bowen was able to obtain and swallow the rubber glove that ultimately led to his
death due to a lack of supervision in the classroom at the end ofthe day. Had the classroom
been staffed with two additional staff members, rather than student volunteers who are not
caregivers for the students, Bowen may have been observed obtaining the glove and/or putting
it in his mouth.

Due to the numerous staff who had contact with Bowen throughout the day, the unknown
circumstances surrounding how he secured and later consumed the glove, and which caregiver

was respOnsible for him at that time, this worker is making an unnamed indicated finding of
child neglect of Bowen Levy.