A North Carolina social worker who has been charged in connection with the case of a young member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is back on the job.

Candice Lassiter, 28, was charged with obstruction of justice and forgery. Authorities allege she covered up information about the Aubrey Kina-Marie Littlejohn, a 15-month-old girl who died while under the supervision of social services in Swain County.

“That was like a slap in the face to the family,” Ruth McCoy, Aubrey's aunt, told the Associated Press. “Aubrey is already gone. She will never return and then they bring this woman who was involved in her death back to work in front of us? It’s wrong.”

Lassiter is one of several parties who are named in a wrongful death filed by Aubrey's family.

Get the Story:
North Carolina social worker back on job despite pending criminal charges in child’s death (AP 6/15)
Negligence alleged in lawsuit against Swain County DSS (The Cherokee One Feather 6/11)

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Social service director fired after death of Eastern Cherokee girl (06/29)
Autopsy for death of Eastern Cherokee girl still not public (4/27)
County social workers excluded from Eastern Cherokee lands (3/22)
Eastern Cherokees consider taking child services from county (3/17)
Authorities investigating death of Eastern Cherokee baby girl (2/23)