DCYF: Neglect contributed to deaths of two-year-old and seven-year-old children

Providence, R.I. (March 05, 2021) -The Department of Children, Youth & Families is disclosing the deaths of two children (a two-year-old female and a seven-year-old female) from Providence.

The Department had no prior involvement with the family, according to DCYF.

The children’s deaths were the result of a fire on December 22, 2020 on Lucy Street in Providence. The Department initiated an investigation and determined neglect contributed to their fatalities.

Pursuant to state law, DCYF has notified the Office of the Child Advocate of the report.

According to WCVB, adult relatives and a juvenile relative were inside the home at the time of the fire. They escaped, but the two children who lived at the residence did not. The mother was not home at the time.

According to the family, also lost in the fire were two pet dogs that died and all of the contents of the home.

A GoFundMe page has currently raised over $94,000 for the family of Ashley and Alison Sandoval.

DCYF did not elaborate any further due to confidentiality laws.

Rhode Islanders are required by law to report known or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to DCYF within 24 hours of becoming aware of such abuse/neglect. Please call 1-800-RI-CHILD to report known or suspected cases of child abuse.