DICKSON, Tenn. - A local father said his request to the state of Tennessee went ignored and his child has died as a result. Edward Mays was in jail when the girl died, and he believes his little girl's death could have been prevented.
Mays told us he contacted the Department of Children Services a number of times in the last three weeks, but he said his letter and calls were never returned and now his 18-month old daughter is gone.
Mays might sit behind a glass window, but it isn't hard to see a glimpse of his heart.
"At first, it stunned me… last time I saw my little girl, I kissed her to sleep before I came to jail," said Mays.
Mays' 18-month old, Somarah Smith, died Thursday morning. As investigators try to determine how, Mays wants to know why.
Edward Benesch, the mother's boyfriend has been charged with reckless homicide and child abuse.
"You need to confess all that happened and quit pointing the fingers," said Mays about Benesch. "Grow up and be an adult. Tell it like it is."
Mays also told us he tried to contact the Department of Children's Services in February after the children's mother Jill Smith went to jail but said his calls were ignored.
Mays said this is a tragedy that could have been prevented had the state intervened.
"She may have still be there if they would have taken a step of seeing what was going on," said Mays.
But he knows being on the other side of the glass would help too.
"I just know when you see your kids, you need to hold them close, because you don't know when you're going to see those kids," said Mays.
DCS released a statement confirming that the father, Edward Mays, left them a voicemail in February stating that the children's mother was in jail and that his children were with her boyfriend and he was concerned about their welfare.
DCS says he didn't leave the boyfriend's name. The Department claimed their staff called the Dickson County Jail and requested he call with more information but never received a response.
