Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-03-08

Duration: 00:09:23

Subjects: Child Abuse | Louisiana. Department of Health and Human Resources

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Ekings, Robyn Reporter
• Stathes, Sheri Interviewee
• Browning, Cindy Interviewee
• Meyers, Mel Interviewee
• Hebert, Larry Interviewee
• Griffith, Betty Interviewee

This segment from the March 8, 1985, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Robyn Ekings’ report on the investigation into the Louisiana Department of Health and Human Resources’ handling of the child abuse case of three-year-old Joshua Gnagie of Baton Rouge, who was allegedly beaten to death by his mother’s boyfriend. Ekings reports that a special state task force is handling the investigation. She interviews: Sheri Stathes and Cindy Browning, Gnagie’s baby-sitters who reported the abuse to parish and state officials; Mel Meyers, Assistant Secretary of DHHR; Dr. Larry Hebert, a pediatrician and task force member; and Betty Griffith, Gnagie’s aunt. Host: Beth Courtney