DCS says more children died than it said earlier - WSMV Channel 4

The Department of Children's Services now says more children it had contact with died in both 2012 and 2011 than the agency previously reported.

DCS officials said in January that 73 children who were brought to the department's attention died in 2012. The agency has corrected the figure to 105 children.

Likewise, DCS said earlier that 47 children it had contact with died in 2011, but revised that figure to 91 children.

"The fact that we don't know how many children we had custody or had contact with who have died -

and that we cant tell the public - that is just an amazing feat of stupidity," said State Rep. Sherry Jones, D-Nashville.

After all, not only is every child death recorded, but every county also sends its child deaths to the child fatality review board.

"It's astounding, actually. Yeah, it's shocking and disheartening," said board member Kellie Harmon. "It makes me wonder who we are missing and why we are missing them."

Newly appointed DCS Deputy Director Scott Modell said the data have been cross-checked and are now accurate.

Copyright 2013 WSMV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.