Milford police had prior contact with the family of five children from
Derby who died in a
fiery crash in Scarsdale, New
York last month. They also called in the Connecticut Department of Children and
Families for the situation, according to a police report obtained by News 12.
On Aug. 16, police responded to the 1500 block of the Post Road after someone
called concerned about a group of kids who were asking for food and money. The
report said officers found four younger children and one older child in the
parking lot of Wren Kitchens, where the oldest told them he and his siblings
were raising money for his basketball team.
"All were carrying clip boards with flyers on it that read, Lynden
Tigers Basketball at the top," the report noted.
Police said they contacted the kids' father, Anthony Billips Sr., who stated
that he'd dropped them off there but was now on his way to New York and unable
to get them.
“Mr. Billips stated the kids had planned on taking the bus home when
they were done fundraising,” the report said. He also said the family lived in
Waterbury and had just moved into a relative’s house. According to the report,
police then called the children’s mother, Natazia Benjamin-Billips, who said
she couldn’t come to Milford, and “she would send a lift for them.”
The report stated that police informed Benjamin-Billips they couldn't let the
kids go without a parent. Instead, officers brought all five children to the
police department until she could get there, and they also contacted the
Milford DCF regional office. The report said a DCF worker spoke with the
children and their mother when she arrived. It also noted, "A DCF referral
was completed on scene and sent to the Waterbury office due to their current
living situation." Police told Benjamin-Billips she was free to go, but
that DCF would be contacting her for a follow-up, the report said.
On March 19, six unaccompanied minors from that family were on the Hutchinson
River Parkway headed home to Derby, when the SUV they were in hit a boulder and
a tree, then burst into flames. Anthony Billips Jr., 17, Malik Smith, 16, Zahnyiah Cross, 12,
Shawnell Cross, 11, and Andrew Billips, 8, were killed. A 9-year-old who
was riding in the back of the SUV was the sole survivor. Abraham Billips
managed to escape out the smashed back window, according to officials. Smith,
who was driving, did not have a license or permit. The Westchester County
Police Department is investigating the crash and previously said they’re
looking at whether Smith fell asleep at the wheel or was distracted. The SUV
had been rented by a family member, but law enforcement said they were looking
into how Smith got access to it.
Officials also
initially said the family had just moved to Derby from New York, which is why
the children were not enrolled in Derby public schools. The Milford police
report questions that.
As News 12
previously reported, the Office of the Child Advocate is investigating the
circumstances that led to the children’s deaths and what state agencies were
involved with the family. A few days after the crash,
DCF confirmed they interviewed the children in February after a request
from New York Protective Services regarding an alleged incident there.
Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes released the following statement:
“This is an unspeakable tragedy, and our thoughts are
with the family, friends, neighbors and others within the community who knew
these children and are now grieving their loss and the trauma they experienced.
We are currently reviewing our interactions with the involved families.
We can confirm that at the end of last month, we
were asked by a neighboring state to perform a "courtesy visit" to
interview the children based on an alleged incident that occurred in their
jurisdiction.
Upon the request, and because the children were
located in Connecticut at the time, we assisted and reported back to our
colleagues accordingly. There was nothing learned in the interviews which
warranted further Connecticut DCF involvement.
Our Department adheres to confidentiality under
state statute 17a-28 and federal law and due to the pending investigation into
this incident, we are unable to comment further on this matter."
DCF would not comment Tuesday on any prior interactions
with the family, including when they were called by Milford police last summer,
or current interactions. But Derby police confirmed to News 12 that DCF has
requested their help with the family. Lt. Sal Frosceno said officers are working with DCF, but there is no
open criminal investigation at this time. Frosceno couldn’t speak to the reason
police were called in.