Overview
- Kanaiyah Ward, 16, was found dead on Sept. 22 in a Residence Inn on the Johns Hopkins campus while in Maryland DHS custody with a contracted one-on-one caregiver.
- The autopsy cites diphenhydramine intoxication as the cause of death and notes a detailed note, an empty antihistamine bottle, prior depression and PTSD, and scars consistent with past cutting.
- Following the ruling, Baltimore police closed their investigation, while DHS continues an internal review of supervision provided to Ward.
- DHS has paused work with Fenwick Behavioral Services, the vendor assigned to Ward, as scrutiny intensifies over contractor vetting and oversight flagged in a recent legislative audit.
- State leaders, including Gov. Wes Moore, are pledging fixes as DHS reports hotel placements reduced to 18 as of Sept. 25 out of 3,765 youth in out-of-home care after auditors tallied 280 hotel stays in 2023–24.