WASHINGTON, Ind. (AP) - State child welfare officials reportedly allowed a 2-year-old boy to remain in his mother's custody after the child tested positive for methamphetamine. The boy, Jalen Blake, died June 28th from a head injury.

Newspapers in Indianapolis and Washington, Indiana, report the Department of Child Services left Jalen with his mother, 22-year-old Vadney Blake, even after learning on June 6th he had tested positive for meth. Court records showed a DCS caseworker spoke with Blake on June 9th about the test results but did not remove Jalen from her custody. A DCS spokeswoman won't talk about the case because of confidentiality rules, but she says the agency is investigating.

Blake was charged with neglect and conspiracy to make methamphetamine on July 16th. She's still in jail in Daviess County on $500,000 bond.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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