The Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) is facing intense scrutiny over its handling of a convicted murderer’s case, raising alarming questions about public safety. Fox45 News has been pursuing answers for the past month, but DHS officials have consistently evaded direct responses.

The case in question involves Walter Martinez, an MS-13 gang member who murdered Kayla Hamilton in July 2022 in Harford County. After the killing, the then 16-year-old Martinez was placed in foster care under Child Protective Services, a division of DHS. Despite Aberdeen Police informing CPS that Martinez was a gang member and murder suspect, he was subsequently placed in two foster homes and enrolled in two public schools in Baltimore County and Harford County.

Angela Studivant, who cared for Martinez in his first foster home, told Project Baltimore she was not informed of his violent history. “I think that was awful and despicable. That put me in the line of fire that I didn’t even know that I was in,” Studivant said.

When questioned about their policies on informing foster care providers about violent juveniles, DHS avoided giving a direct answer. Instead, they provided a link to state law concerning foster parents’ rights, which does not address the handling of information about violent juveniles.

Another foster care provider, speaking anonymously, suggested that DHS has a history of withholding information. “They never tell you the truth,” the provider explained. “Like in the gang, you don’t snitch within their circle. You don’t snitch, you don’t talk.”

In an attempt to get answers, Project Baltimore visited DHS’s state offices in downtown Baltimore. However, reporter Chris Papst was denied entry beyond the lobby due to not having an appointment, despite DHS being a government office.

The lack of transparency seems at odds with the values recently espoused by DHS Secretary Rafael Lopez. At a recent conference, Lopez listed departmental values shared with Governor Wes Moore’s administration, including “be responsive” and “over communicate.”

Project Baltimore’s efforts to reach DHS officials, including Press Secretary Lillian Price and Director of Communications Stephen Patterson, have gone unanswered. The team even requested Secretary Lopez’s public events schedule for the next two weeks and offered to accommodate an interview with him or a staff member.

As of publication, Fox45 has not received a response from DHS. This ongoing silence in the face of serious public safety concerns raises questions about the department’s commitment to transparency and its responsibility to protect both foster families and the wider community.

Credit: Fox 45 Project Baltimore