EDITORIAL: Report drives home urgency of DCS reforms

The recent Indiana Department of Child Services report showing 40 children died of abuse in Indiana — five of them in Northwest Indiana — in a 12-month period should cause anyone reading it to shed a tear for those children.

State report: 5 region children died of abuse, neglect injuries in a year

INDIANAPOLIS | Northwest Indiana was home to five of Indiana's 40 children who died of abuse or neglect between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, a state report released Monday shows.

Kubina gets 35 years in prison for 'great sin'

CROWN POINT | The stepmother of a boy whose body was discovered in 2011 in a shallow grave in Gary was sentenced Tuesday to 35 years in prison.

EDITORIAL: Keep up pressure for DCS reforms

Legislation to bring necessary reforms to the Department of Child Services has fortunately cleared the first hurdles in the Indiana General Assembly.

Riley Choate sentenced to 80 years in prison

CROWN POINT | With members of Christian Choate’s family looking on Friday, Lake County Criminal Court Judge Diane Boswell sentenced the slain boy’s father, Riley Choate, to 80 years in prison.

Uncle questions placement of Choate sibling

CROWN POINT | The brother of Kimberly Kubina, a convicted felon for her role in the death of stepson Christian Choate, is questioning the state's placement of the slain teen's half-brother.

Riley Choate admits to horrific acts in death of 13-year-old son

CROWN POINT | Riley Choate showed no emotion Friday as he pleaded guilty to multiple charges relating to the neglect and death of his 13-year-old son.

Choate case lawyers agree to tape out-of-state witnesses

CROWN POINT | Out-of-state witnesses in the Riley Choate murder case will be deposed on videotape, but they still may be called to testify at trial.

Judge bumps Choate trial to January

CROWN POINT | Lake Criminal Court Judge Diane Boswell on Monday appointed the public defender's office the lone counsel for Riley Choate, delaying Choate's murder trial to January.

Choate trial may be delayed

CROWN POINT | Lake Criminal Court Judge Diane Boswell will hold a hearing Monday on whether to delay the trial of accused murderer Riley Choate.

Judge appoints public defender co-counsel in Choate case

CROWN POINT | Hammond attorney Randy Godshalk will continue to go unpaid in his defense of Riley Choate but will be joined by an attorney from the public defender's office.

Court orders Christian Choate's body released to mother

CROWN POINT | A Lake County court ordered the body of Christian Choate released to his biological mother Friday during a hearing in advance of his father's murder trial.

Choate trial delayed until the fall

CROWN POINT | Lake Criminal Court Judge Diane Boswell is delaying the murder trial of a Hammond man whose son died following a year of neglect, beatings and being locked in a dog cage.

Prosecutors: Conviction could land Riley Choate in prison for life

CROWN POINT | Riley Choate, a former Gary man facing murder and other charges in the death of his teenage son, was told Tuesday he would serve an additional 30 years in prison if convicted under habitual offender laws.

Kimberly Kubina pleads guilty to neglect in Choate case

CROWN POINT | Kimberly Kubina, stepmother to slain teen Christian Choate, pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent Wednesday.

Attorneys not ready for upcoming Choate trial

CROWN POINT | Lake County Criminal Court on Tuesday reluctantly reset the murder trial of a couple accused of murder and other multiple felonies in the death of 13-year-old Christian Choate.

EDITORIAL: DCS needs new direction, new director

Before James Payne took over, the Indiana Department of Child Services was a troubled agency. It remains troubled. It's time for major changes.

Deaths of two children the focus of a community meeting

MERRILLVILLE | The violent deaths of two Indiana children were the focus of an emotionally charged meeting Wednesday night with the state's top child services official.

Defense scrambles as Choate murder trial approaches

CROWN POINT | Defense lawyers for the father and former step-mother of abuse victim Christian Choate told a judge they are running out of money and time to prepare for next month's murder trial.