After Child Found Dead in Baltimore Hotel Room, Delegate Mike Griffith Wants New Legislation to Protect Foster Children
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The Easton Gazette recently reported on the death of a 16-year-old foster child who had been placed by Maryland's foster care agency in a Baltimore hotel room and was found dead by hotel staff. The coroner's report showed that the young lady, Kanaiyah Ward, had committed suicide with diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl.
Maryland Audit Finds Foster Children Placed With Sex Offenders - The Easton Gazette
Ward's death led to many questions about the foster care system in Maryland. After a recent audit, it was discovered that many foster children were being placed in hotel rooms throughout the area and, in some cases, were being monitored by people with disqualifying criminal records including registered sex offenders and one convicted murderer.
The use of hotel rooms is a safety issue for the children, but also cost Maryland taxpayers millions in payments to hotels in the state. Approximately 280 children were housed in hotels rather than in homes, some for nearly two years.
In 2025, the Maryland General Assembly voted to create the "Workgroup on Children in Unlicensed Settings and Pediatric Hospital Overstays." The workgroup was supposed to publish a report on their findings on October 1, 2025. It was discovered earlier this month that the group had not even met until October 2 of this year. Eleven of the fifteen members of the workgroup were to be appointed by Governor Moore's office. That appeared to be what accounted for the delay as the Governor's office didn't complete the appointments. Moore's office said this was due to the need for extensive vetting of appointees.
Moore's critics cited the fact that the Governor had spent a great deal of time this year out of the state. He was seen vacationing on George Clooney's yacht in Italy, campaigning for a gubernatorial candidate in New Jersey, and fundraising on Martha's Vineyard.
In response to Ward's death, Delegate Mike Griffith, Republican, announced plans to introduce the Never Again Act of 2026 – Kanaiyah’s Law. Griffith noted that the goal of the bill will be to prohibit placing foster care children in hotels for more than a week without the review and authorization from the Secretary of Department of Human Services and will require training, licensing, and criminal background checks for one-on-one providers.
Griffith grew up as a child in foster care.
A recent audit of the system found many flaws in the Maryland Foster Care System. This seems to be a trend in Moore's administration as many agencies, including the Department of Juvenile Justice, are alleged to be poorly run and managed.
Ward's mother has retained legal counsel for a possible lawsuit against the state.
