A Utah Boy’s Death Highlighted a Gap in the Child Welfare System

By Angela Martinez, October 22nd 2024

Gavin Peterson was 12 years old when he passed away in July, those who knew Gavin tried to raise alarm to what was going on.  

One person had called the Utah division of child and family services on March 23, 2023, to report the alleged abuse. Two days later came another call. Investigators opened a case, the third they had opened in four years. They had interviewed Gavin and talked to the father when visiting the home. 

On May 8, 2023, the case had not been closed, DCFS received yet another abuse report. Leading to a second home visit and many more interviews with Gavin and other adults, including his father.  

The same day they received another report of abuse they had closed the investigation, saying it was “unsupported.”  

DCFS then heard about Gavin again on July 9, 2024, they had learned he was in the hospital, suffering from long-term malnourishment. Gavin passed away the same day. 

 Tonya Myrup, the agency’s director acknowledged this month Gavin had fell from their radar when he was removed from school in August 2023. Despite a case history that dated back to his infancy. 

When Gavin had disappeared from the public it represents a “unique” and “small subset” of abuse and neglect, Myrup stated – where the parents “go to extreme efforts to avoid public intervention.”  Myrup had also said that when it does happen, Utah has no protocols in place to check on the children. 

It’s something the child welfare agency is looking to change. 

 Gavin’s father, stepmother and older brother were all charged with reckless child abuse homicide in connection with his death. Shane Peterson, Nichole Scott and Tyler Peterson all remain held without bail in Weber County Jail.  

Field’s group works to suggest policy they believe can make a difference for at risk children, like Gavin.