The North Carolina Division of Social Services has barred five Swain County social workers from working on cases involving members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

The tribe asked the state to exclude five people who are being investigated in connection with the death of Aubrey Littlejohn on January 10. Littlejohn, who was was 15 months old, was in the care of the county.

“Obviously, we don't have a comfort level until we see that this issue is resolved,” Principal Chief Michell Hicks told The Asheville Citizen-Times.

The state is investigating whether county social workers failed to follow up on allegations of abuse and drug use within Aubrey's off-reservation home. Social workers are also being accused of falsifying records in her case.

Get the Story:
Swain DSS workers banned from Cherokee (The Asheville Citizen-Times 3/22)

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