A 4-year-old Johnston County boy is dead, and his family believes Child Protective Services should have done more to protect him. WRAL reviewed records to learn what happened to Jack Gibson.
His mother, Amber Gibson, is now facing child abuse and drug charges. Although family members say caseworkers visited her home at least four times earlier this year, Gibson's three children were not removed until July 1.
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Now Jack is dead, and his mother's family is seeking answers.
Jack Gibson's last day of school was in May, when he celebrated his pre-K graduation in an orange cap and gown and sang alongside his classmates.
About a month later, on July 1, hospital records show the Johnston County Department of Social Services removed Jack from his mother's home and took him to UNC Health Johnston in Smithfield for drug testing. The tests were negative.
Doctors noted that "when police arrived at the home, it was in squalor with multiple bug infestations."
Medical records show Jack was diagnosed with a viral infection. Family told WRAL they gave him acetaminophen and took him to a relative's home. The next day, the family followed up with his pediatrician.
Jack died three days later. His cause of death has not been determined.
"We're just trying not to be crying our eyes out every minute in front of the other kids, because they've got to learn how to get through this too," said Sherry Samuels, Jack's grand-aunt.
Samuels also cared for Jack and his siblings when their mother could not. The family is now awaiting autopsy results.
When Jack arrived at the hospital July 1, he had a fever of 103 degrees, according to his medical record, which also stated that "reportedly the child had not eaten in a number of days."
Samuels said the family knew about the conditions inside Gibson's home and had urged social workers to remove the children.
"It's like you're walking into a dumpster that has a path cleared where you would walk between the trash," she said. "The mattresses had no sheets on them; they were just filthy. And there was rotten food all around the house."
Samuels believes the conditions in the home may have contributed to Jack's death.
"There have been like 38 cases brought open at Child Protective Services in the house, or any house that Amber was living in," Samuels said. "For the children, it was not clean. It was not. They didn't always have food. ... They didn't go to school a lot."
Amber Gibson has a history of drug-related criminal charges dating back at least nine years, according to court records. She is now charged with felony drug possession, possession of a stolen firearm, exposing children to controlled substances and misdemeanor child abuse.
Samuels said DSS caseworkers visited Gibson's home four times this year before her arrest July 1.
"It's no longer the question of, does a child have to die to get somebody's attention?" Samuels said. "Now the question becomes, how many children have to die before we get somebody's attention?"
WRAL asked Johnston County DSS whether a caseworker ever recommended that Jack and his siblings be removed from their mother's home and, if so, what supervisors decided.
Johnston County Social Services responded that it is "mindful that young Jack Gibson's death weighs heavy on the hearts and minds of many."
"Johnston County Social Services has received WRAL's request for information and comment, but is bound by the confidentiality of juvenile matters," the agency said.
WRAL also reached out to Gibson and her attorney but did not receive a response.
Jack's siblings are now in state custody and staying with their grandmother. Harnett County is investigating how Johnston County DSS handled the case.