Father to claim $20M from state in child's death

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The father of a 3-year-old girl allegedly beaten to death by her mother's boyfriend has filed notice of a $20 million claim against the state, charging it with failing to remove her from the mother's home despite evidence of abuse.

The Hartford Courant reports that Hugo Angeles also filed notice of a separate $5 million claim on behalf of the victim's older sister, who also was allegedly abused by Fredy Alexander Chingo Riz.

The girl's mother, Rosa Gladis Diaz-Mendez, and Riz have been charged with manslaughter in the death of Athena Angeles.

Child protection officials say the beating death could have been prevented had Windham Hospital doctors not missed signs of previous abuse during an earlier hospital visit.

Hugo Angeles' claim contains a timeline that suggests the state had opportunities to intervene.

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Information from: The Hartford Courant