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BRYSON CITY Two social service workers in North Carolina have been accused of falsifying records and indicted on obstruction of justice charges in the investigation of the death of a 1-year-old girl.
Candice Lassiter and Craig Smith were indicted Tuesday. Lassiter also faces forgery charges.
Smith was a social worker for the Swain County Department of Social Services and Lassiter was his supervisor. Police said after Aubrey Littlejohn's death about a year ago, Lassiter ordered Smith to falsify records to make it appear as though the department had done a thorough investigation into allegations that Aubrey was being abused by her great-aunt, LadyBird Powell, who was the girl's caretaker.
A state medical examiner said Aubrey died of undetermined causes, but noted bruises and broken bones.
An Associated Press investigation found that police and social workers had been aware of reports the little girl was being mistreated while she was staying with Powell. Two months before Aubrey died, authorities removed a different child from Powell's home but left Aubrey behind.
Powell was charged last week with second-degree murder in Aubrey's death. She's being held on $1 million bond. Attempts to reach an attorney representing her have been unsuccessful.
An attorney representing Aubrey said the indictments show an expanding probe, but more needs to be done.
"There were other social workers who did nothing to protect this child," attorney David Wijewickrama said Wednesday.
