MIAMI (AP) - A former child abuse investigator has been charged with falsifying the substance abuse screening of a mother who authorities say later left her baby to die in a hot car.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reports that 35-year-old Shani Smith was supposed to determine whether Catalina Bruno's children were safe to remain in her care in 2012 after Bruno was charged with drinking and driving with the children in the car.
Smith said she contacted a substance abuse expert to determine whether Bruno needed drug or alcohol treatment. Smith said Bruno posed no threat and didn't think services were needed. But child welfare officials say Smith never referred the mother for evaluation.
Five months after the investigation closed, Bruno left the baby, along with her purse and some beer, in the car.
The Department of Children and Families fired Smith. She was arrested Wednesday on six counts of misconduct.
Smith has denied any wrongdoing.
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