From January 2002 NASW NEWS
Copyright ©2002, National Association of Social Workers, Inc.

Social Worker Slain While on Duty

By Corinna Vallianatos, NEWS Staff

Nancy Fitzgivens, a 53-year-old child welfare worker in Columbus, Ohio, was killed in October on a home visit to a couple whose seven children she had placed with relatives.

According to an article in the Columbus Dispatch, Fitzgivens' death was the first in the history of Franklin County Children Services. The father of the seven children, Gregory Peck, was arrested and charged with aggravated murder after the mother, Rosie Newkirk, came home to find Fitzgivens, stabbed, on the dining room floor.

Children Services Executive Director John Soros was quoted as saying, "She had been working with the family to unify them and was doing regular visits. There's no indication that the alleged perpetrator, the suspect, would have done something like this."

According to court records, the children had been removed from the house because of both parents' drug use. Children Services had also investigated complaints of physical and sexual abuse.

Fitzgivens had earned her degree in social work two years ago, according to her husband, and specifically requested assignments in tough neighborhoods so she could help the children whose well-being was most at risk.

Walter Torain, the director of the office out of which Fitzgivens worked, said Children Services will assess its safety practices in light of Fitzgivens' death. Caseworkers can request that someone accompany them if they feel at risk.

"Nancy was killed in the line of duty," Torain was quoted as saying.

Soros called Fitzgivens a community hero.

Fitzgivens' husband said he didn't blame Children Services for his wife's death. "She loved what she was doing," he said. "She had found her niche, and we were going to grow old together."

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