DHS Release Chanco's Record of Child Neglect

Written by Sabrina Hall - shall@kgmb9.com

January 20, 2008 09:35 AM

I just want him to rot," said Nancy Chanco. "He's a sick person, sick person. He knew what he was doing. He kidnapped my baby and he murder him and he threw him off the bridge."

Chanco, 33, blames her neighbor Matthew Higa for the death of her son Cyrus Belt. He is under arrest, for allegedly throwing the 23-month-old boy off an H-1 overpass.

But Saturday, the Department of Human Services released 185 pages of documents showing Chanco has a very troubled past that includes child neglect.

Documents said Chanco was smoking ice while she was five months pregnant with Cyrus failing to get prenatal care. When Cryus was only four months old, Chanco was living without elecricity and coming home high.

"Ms. Chanco leaves the baby in the care of the paternal grandfather, while she leaves the home to abuse drugs," said a caseworker.

And just this week, the day Cyrus was killed police said the toddler was wondering the streets alone, after being left in the care of his sleeping grandfather.

"Her boyfriend was supposed to wake me up when they leave the house, so I can watch the baby, but that didn’t' happen," said Lilo Asiata, the victim's grandfather.

On Saturday, KGMB9 went back to home where little Cyrus lived. KGMB9 spoke to the Asiata off-camera.

"A lot of people are saying that your daughter is on drugs," said KGMB9's Sabrina Hall.

"She had a problem but recently she turned herself around," Asiata said.

The prosecutors office won't say if it will seek criminal charges against Chanco for neglect. But as the memorial grows for Cyrus, many are hoping his death serves as a wake up call.

"This was a senseless, senseless tragedy that I believe could have been prevented," said Kaimuki resident Noela Vonwiegandt.

Records show Child Protective Services took Cyrus away from his mother at least once because of neglect and threatened harm.

"Her boy friend was supossed to wake me up when they leave the house, so I can watch the baby, but that didnt' happen," said Lilo Asiata, the victim's grandfather.