DCF investigate hanging death of foster child

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Officials are looking into contributing factors that may have contributed to the hanging death of a young foster child.

The Department of Children and Families launched an investigation into the death of 7-year-old Gabriel Meyers after he committed suicide by hanging himself.

The boy's psychiatrist answered questions regarding what kinds of medications the boy took. "He was on two medications, one for ADHD, the other for mood and stability aggression he was showing and for the anxiety. He was a very traumatized child with multiple symptoms," said Dr. Sohil Punjwani.

Ellen Okrent of Kids in Distress said that they were not aware the child's multiple disorders. "Ultimately, I think that this was a very sick child that had a lot of needs that were not met. Truly, I don't believe we knew the severity of this child's personal illness," she said.

The 7-year-old boy hanged himself at his Margate foster home on April 16.

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