New reports of children’s deaths

On Monday, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services released files on 20 previously undisclosed cases of children who died of maltreatment after being under the department’s scrutiny. Other cases still unreported by the department have been confirmed by The Times. Among the cases:

On April 26, 2010, a 4-month-old girl died southwest of downtown Los Angeles when her mother rolled on top of her, according to county records. Her mother had a history of methamphetamine use and had been reported to Family Services nine times.

A 1-year-old girl died July 14, reportedly after drowning in a swimming pool. The death was ruled to be the result of severe neglect. Before the child’s death, her family had been the subject of two child abuse calls in Los Angeles County and one in Kern County. In 2006, Los Angeles social workers determined that her siblings had been victims of abuse and neglect.

Erica Johnson, a 2-year-old girl, was beaten to death by her mother’s boyfriend on Oct. 6 in Westmont, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Los Angeles social workers had earlier investigated the toddler’s welfare. Her parents also had been found to be victims of abuse and neglect as children, according to sources familiar with the case.