CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WINA) – Justice for Khaleesi, a Facebook group that formed after the death of 3-year-old Khaleesi Cuthriell, is pushing for an investigation of the Child Protective Services (CPS) office that placed her in the care of Candi Royer, who pleaded guilty to the girl’s murder.
When the girl’s mother was returned to prison for a parole violation, she asked that Royer be granted custody of her daughter.
Brittany Strickland, who organized a petition drive, says CPS failed miserably when they placed the girl in Royer’s home.
“Candi Royer had a frickin’ ankle monitor on her ankle, and they didn’t really check the house out,” she says. “There were just so many signs that were obvious to me that this was definitely not the place to put her. And I feel that the agency, or at least the CPS worker who placed her there, needs to be held accountable.”
Royer’s partner, Travis Brown, was convicted of aggravated murder in August, 2023. Royer pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in October.
More than 2,200 people have signed the petition. The group has also set up a meeting with Del. Chris Runion to discuss the possibility of an investigation.
