Overview

• Officers responded to the Residence Inn on the 800 block of North Wolfe Street late Monday morning and found Kanaiyah Ward deceased.
• Investigators reported no signs of foul play or trauma and classified the case as questionable, with the cause pending the medical examiner.
• Maryland’s Department of Human Services confirmed Ward was in its custody, opened an investigation, and said contractors will face accountability if standards fell short.
• A Sept. 12 legislative audit cited widespread hotel placements and found one-on-one vendor staff were not subject to required criminal background checks.
• DHS said it previously issued an RFP to mandate those checks and that proposals were under review in August; FOX45 reported unconfirmed dispatch audio referring to a fatal overdose and questions about an assigned aide.