DCF records on slain 3-year-old KCK girl will not be publicly released, judge decides
A Wyandotte County judge ruled Tuesday that state records in the case of a 3-year-old girl whose body was found July 10 in a shallow grave should not be released to the public.
The judge granted a motion to prohibit releasing the Department for Children and Families’ records relating to Olivia Jansen, whose body was found in a wooded area in the 3400 block of Steele Road in Kansas City, Kansas.
Shortly after Olivia’s body was found, several media outlets — including The Star — filed requests with DCF under the Kansas Open Records Act to see what involvement Kansas officials had with the family prior to Olivia’s death.
At a hearing last month, Deputy District Attorney Crystalyn Oswald argued that the release of records could hinder the ongoing investigation and future prosecution of the case. She told the judge she thought it was necessary for him to review the 533 pages of records before any information was released.
After the decision Tuesday, Elisabeth Jansen, Olivia’s step-grandmother, said she was disappointed, but not surprised, by the judge’s ruling. She said she has a right to know what is in the records.
“I want to know what she went through,” said Elisabeth Jansen, who donned a mask that read, “Justice for Olivia.” She added that she wanted “some type of justice, even though nothing will make up for what we’ve lost.”
Nearly a dozen people who wore yellow T-shirts calling for justice for Olivia left the courthouse without commenting to reporters. A DCF representative who attended the hearing also said she could not immediately comment.
Olivia’s body was found the same day her father, Howard Jansen III, reported to police that she was missing.
Prosecutors charged Jansen, 29, and his girlfriend, Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick, 33, with felony murder and other crimes in Olivia’s death. Her body had signs of physical abuse, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Some members of the community demanded to know what the state’s involvement in the case was after Olivia’s grandparents said they raised concerns about her well-being to child services in June.
Attorneys for Jansen and Kirkpatrick have said they did not think certain information should be released to the public. Jansen’s lawyer, James Spies, previously said the release of records could harm Jansen’s ability to get a fair trial.
DCF officials have released a summary of information, including details of two reports that came into the agency this year. A 2018 law requires certain information be released after a child dies of abuse or neglect.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 12:40 PM.
