State child fatality records indicate Colorado human services at some point in the past three years likely were involved with the family of the 7-year-old boy whose dead body was found in a Denver storage unit last month. All child fatalities that are the result of suspected abuse or neglect are required to be reported to the Colorado Department of Human Services within 24 hours. The last death reported in 2018 was listed as a 7-year-old boy who was living with family, according to a database on the human services department’s website. The unnamed boy’s death was reported on Dec. 24, one day after Denver police discovered 7-year-old Caden McWilliams’ body in a self-storage unit in southeast Denver. The database shows the 7-year-old’s family had been involved with a county human services department within the past three years. An investigation into whether the death was a result of abuse or neglect and how the family’s previous case was handled is pending. It is unknown what type of involvement or which county’s human services department had contact with the family, and who in the family was the recipient of services. Human services officials would not confirm whether the 7-year-old listed on the database was Caden. Denver police estimate that Caden had been dead since May when his body was found in a self-storage garage at 5005 E. Evans Ave. in southeast Denver, according to 2018 homicide data provided to The Denver Post through an open records request. The Denver medical examiner said an autopsy had been performed but the cause of death remains under investigation. The boy’s mother, Elisha Pankey, was arrested Wednesday in connection with her son’s death. Pankey, who also goes by Elisha McWilliams, is being held for investigation of child abuse resulting in death. Pankey has another child, who has been placed in protective custody. Carolyn Tyler, a spokeswoman for the Denver District Attorney’s Office, said police had referred the case to her office but she could not discuss it further. The search for the boy apparently began on Dec. 21, but authorities have not said who reported him missing. Elisha Pankey was arrested Dec. 22 on suspicion of possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia after an Aurora police officer, who was involved in the search for her son, found heroin in a pill bottle in a hotel room where she had been staying, an arrest affidavit said. Police also arrested Leland Pankey, who has been in a relationship with Elisha Pankey for at least three years, on Dec. 21 on a warrant for a 2017 domestic violence charge. He allegedly strangled Elisha Pankey until she became unconscious, according to the arrest affidavit. Leland Pankey did not speak when he appeared in court Friday morning for a second advisement on the second-degree assault charge. He is being held on a $25,000 bond. Leland Pankey has not been charged in connection with Caden’s death. Julie Smith, a spokeswoman for Denver Human Services, could not comment on any specific cases her office might be involved in. State law prohibits human services departments from disclosing clients, she said in an email. “This is an incredibly tragic story and our full hearts go out to all of those who knew Caden,” Smith said. “This crime is shocking and disturbing and we are fully supportive of the work of our law enforcement partners.” Yvette Yeon, a spokeswoman for the Arapahoe County Human Services, also would not say whether her department had been involved with the family. “Given light of (the) situation, it’s really important for people to understand the importance of child abuse and neglect hotlines,” Yeon said. “If there’s (a) message to (the) public, it’s taking this opportunity to understand there are things the community can do.” Denver police have not said who reported the child missing or what led them to the storage unit. The Aurora Police Department was the first department to begin looking for the child. That department has referred all questions about the case to Denver police. Denver police did not return a phone call Friday. Caden’s story leaves questions about how a 7-year-old child could be dead for seven months without anyone reporting him missing. The boy had been a student at Ellis Elementary School in Denver during the 2017-2018 school year. The school released a statement Thursday saying the boy was sweet, performed well in academics and was a model student. Will Jones, a Denver Public Schoold spokesman, would not comment on when Caden stopped attending Ellis or whether he was enrolled last fall. New Denver Superintendent Susan Cordova said in a statement, “This terrible loss is being felt throughout our entire school district and community.” Grief counselors will be available for Ellis teachers and students once they return from winter break next week. Related Articles Police arrest mother in connection with death of 7-year-old son found in Denver storage unit “Our thoughts are with Caden’s family,” Cordova said. This situation should be viewed as a call to action, said Becky Miller Updike, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center. “It’s encouraging us as a community to ‘see something, say something,’ ” Updike said. “It’s such a cliche, but I’m not sure how comfortable people are with reporting. We need to create a climate were people are comfortable doing it.” People who suspect child neglect or abuse are encouraged to call the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-844-CO-4-KIDS. More information can be found at co4kids.org.<doc-sep>'Not A Monster': Devon Erickson's Defense Attorney Says STEM School Shooting Suspect Was 'Confused Kid'Devon Erickson has pleaded not guilty to murder in the deadly shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch on May 7, 2019. 6 hours ago Trail Ridge Road Could Reopen As Soon As Friday At Rocky Mountain National ParkTrail Ridge Road could reopen as soon as Friday in Rocky Mountain National Park, if weather and conditions allow. 7 hours ago DICK's Sporting Goods Park To Operate At Full Capacity Starting July 4DICKS's Sporting Goods Park will hold Colorado Rapids games at full capacity starting July 4. 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Make Sure You're Eligible To Win $1 Million From ColoradoAs Coloradans started researching their own records, many noticed their vaccinations were either not listed on the state’s website, or they were not listed as a known resident of Colorado. 8 hours ago<doc-sep>Elisha Pankey, 43, was charged on Monday with child abuse and abuse of a corpse The mother of a seven-year-old boy who was found 'encased in concrete' in a storage unit after he disappeared in May was charged Monday in the boy's death. Elisha Pankey, 43, was charged with child abuse resulting in the death of Caden McWilliams and abuse of a corpse. The child was encased in concrete within the locked unit in Denver, sources told the Denver Post. Police declined to comment but estimated Caden had been dead since the beginning of May. He was discovered just two days before Christmas Day within the Denver storage facility after a tip-off from an unnamed source in neighboring Aurora. Caden McWilliams, seven, was described by his elementary school teacher as a hard worker, positive and caring The grisly discovery of the child's corpse was made at the Denver storage unit after a tip-off from an unnamed source in neighboring Aurora Pankey had been charged with possession of heroin in Aurora the day before the grisly find. A judge has sealed all records in the case, including a document laying out the reasons for Pankey's arrest. Authorities have not said exactly when the boy was reported missing or released information about when or how he died. Court records filed by prosecutors on Monday only provide a range of when authorities believe the crimes occurred. A picture from social media shows a younger Caden McWilliams with his mother Elisha Pankey, who has been charged with his death Courtesy of KDVR A Denver Police spokesman said on Friday that investigators believe McWilliams last attended school in May. Denver authorities got involved when neighboring Aurora Police contacted them with information about a missing boy. They found the boy's body that day inside a unit at a self-serve storage facility. Investigators believe Caden last attended school in May before he was killed Aurora officers had arrested Pankey the previous day on suspicion of heroin possession after coming into contact with her while investigating a missing child, according to court records. Aurora Police have declined to comment further on that missing child case. 'Thanks to the tenacious work by both the Aurora and Denver Police Departments, we now know that young Caden was not only missing for several months, he was no longer alive,' Denver District Attorney Beth McCann said Monday. 'This is a terrible tragedy for the community. While this case will take time to resolve, it will take even longer for our community to learn and heal.' As winter break ends this week, Denver Public Schools officials say grief counselors will be available for students and staff at the elementary school that McWilliams attended. A statement from Denver Public Schools said: 'The school principal Nichole Whiteman described Caden as a hard worker who did well academically and who was always positive, caring and lived the Ellis core value of Integrity.' Pankey's next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday morning and she remains jailed on a $250,000 bond.<doc-sep>
The body of the 7-year-old boy found dead last month in a Denver storage unit was encased in concrete, multiple sources with knowledge of the investigation told The Denver Post. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing the ongoing investigation. Steve Castro, spokesman for the Denver coroner’s office, declined to comment on whether Caden McWilliams’s body was found in concrete. Law enforcement officials have publicly identified the boy, but Castro said the staff in the coroner’s office was still trying to officially confirm the identity of the child two weeks after the body was found. Coroner’s investigators also have not yet been able to say whether the child was male or female, he said. Denver police declined to comment on whether McWilliams’s body was found encased in concrete, spokesman Jay Casillas said. Police estimated that the boy had been dead since at least May. The Denver District Attorney’s Office on Monday charged the boy’s mother, Elisha Pankey, with child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse in connection with her son’s death. The abuse of corpse charge states Pankey, “treated the body or remains of a person in a way that would outrage normal family sensibilities…” The charging documents say Pankey either knowingly or recklessly caused an injury or unreasonably placed her son in a situation that posed a threat of injury to the child resulting in his death. Pankey, 43, remained in jail Monday on a $250,000 bond. The district attorney filed formal charges against her Monday morning. “Thanks to the tenacious work by both the Aurora and Denver police departments, we now know that young Caden was not only missing for several months, he was no longer alive. This is a terrible tragedy for the community,” Denver District Attorney Beth McCann said in a news release. “While this case will take time to resolve, it will take even longer for our community to learn and heal.” Identifying a child’s body is more difficult than those of adults because they typically don’t have fingerprints on file, Castro said. Experts also can use dental records if they are available or DNA to confirm a person’s identity. The coroner’s office has completed an autopsy, but has not yet determined the cause of Caden’s death. Authorities will take into account findings of a police investigation before making a determination. “We need to get the full story from police about what happened,” Castro said. “We take into account what police actually find.” A judge has sealed the case file and no other details on the death will be released, the DA’s office said. Caden McWilliams’ body was found in a self-storage unit on East Evans Avenue in southeast Denver on Dec. 23 after Aurora police sent a tip to the Denver Police Department. Authorities have not said when Aurora police began looking for the boy or who reported him missing. Denver police estimate Caden had been dead since late May, according to 2018 homicide data provided to The Denver Post through an open records request. Pankey turned herself in to Denver police on Wednesday. On Dec. 22, Aurora police arrested her on suspicion of heroin possession after finding the drug in a pill bottle in her hotel room. On Dec. 21, police arrested Leland Pankey, who is in a relationship with Elisha Pankey, on warrant for a 2017 second-degree assault. Leland Pankey was accused of strangling her, according to court records. He is being held in the Downtown Detention Center on a $25,000 bond. State child fatality records indicate Colorado human services at some point in the past three years likely was involved with Caden’s family. A state database shows an investigation into the death of an unnamed 7-year-old boy was launched on Dec. 24, one day after Caden’s body was found. Caden had been a student at Ellis Elementary School in Denver during the 2017-2018 school year. The school released a statement Thursday saying the boy was sweet, performed well in academics and was a model student.