RivCo Woman Seeks Answers After Daughter Dies at Foster Home

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA -- A woman is calling for a full investigation into the death of her daughter Diane, who passed away last month while at a Murrieta foster home.

Diane Ramirez, 16, was a resident of the Michelle Morris Small Family Home when she was rushed to the hospital on April 6 because she wasn't breathing, according to Diane's mother, Angel Cadena.

Diane, who was nicknamed 'Princess' Diane by her mother, was pronounced dead at the hospital. The cause, Cadena said she was told, was that her daughter had been choking on bile. Diane suffered from cerebral palsy that was complicated by epilepsy and asthma, and had been on a feeding tube.

Nursing home staff refused multiple requests for comment.

Diane had been in foster care since last year, after her mother was evicted from her home.

“You guys took her to protect her but you failed to protect her,” Cadena said of the state’s decision during an interview with CBS2 news.

The station performed a records search and found a number of complaints against the foster home, which is located on Calle Bandido in Murrieta. Allegations included physical abuse of residents, inadequate employee training and inappropriate contact between a staffer and a minor.

"I want Justice for my Princess and to be the voice to those poor kids that are still stuck in that home," Cadena told Patch. "I just miss my baby girl so much."

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help pay for expenses related to Diane's death. It has so far raised nearly $5,800 of the $6,500 goal. Those wanting to donate can do so at https://www.gofundme.com/memor...

(Disclosure: GoFundMe is a Patch partner.)

Patch editor Maggie Avants contributed to this report.