Nash leaders: No plan to change DSS leadership after WRAL Investigation

This week, WRAL Investigates found two children have died in the care of the Nash County Department of Social Services since 2020.

After meeting Friday to discuss those findings, county leaders say they’re not planning to change the department’s leadership.

The comments came from county commissioners following a three-hour, closed-session meeting to discuss, among other things, the results of a months-long WRAL Investigation into Nash DSS.

"We discussed how it got into the news media, something that we didn’t even know about," District 2 Commissioner Fred Belfield told WRAL News.

On Monday, WRAL Investigates released an update in an ongoing investigation in the county’s social services department.

Chase Hilliard, 1, was allegedly killed by his mother in 2020, and investigators say 8-year-old Christal Lane was murdered by her grandmother in February.

WRAL Investigates has learned in both cases, recommendations were made to Nash DSS to remove the children from their homes before their deaths. However, that action was not taken.

"We’re going to make sure that we have the proper training to do their job," Belfield said.

After coming out of closed session, the commissioners didn’t publicly address WRAL Investigates’ findings.

Earlier this week following WRAL’s investigation, two Nash commissioners had shared concerns about the leadership of Nash DSS.

On Friday, Commissioner Gwen Wilkins said she couldn’t discuss what had happened in closed session.

WRAL News also reached out to commissioner Marvin Arrington, but didn’t hear back.

One commissioner did address whether he feels the leaders of Nash DSS are competent to oversee the department.

"I think they are, they just need more training," Belfield said. "And training that was probably, most likely, lacking."