Metro East Sun

A former caseworker assigned to monitor Illinois foster child Mackenzi Felmlee, who died in May 2024, had a history that included an arrest for a violent crime and multiple protection orders filed against her by several women, according to court documents.

Kurtavia White, previously employed by Lutheran Child and Family Services, was arrested about ten years before Mackenzi’s death following an incident at a Metro East strip club. The altercation resulted in injuries to a dancer who required staples in her head. White was also accused of posting nude photos of the victim on social media as retaliation.

Mackenzi Felmlee, age 18, died on May 11, 2024. She was found unconscious at the bottom of the stairs in her foster home located in Fairview Heights, Illinois. An affidavit signed by a Fairview Heights police detective during the investigation into Mackenzi’s death indicated that White failed to properly document her visits with the teen. "It was discovered through the records that case worker Kurtavia White was copying and pasting notes for home visits, which does not appear to have correctly documented the visits," stated the affidavit dated June 23, 2024.

Following Mackenzi's death, Shemeka Williams—Mackenzi’s foster mother—and Williams’ mother Cornelia Reid were indicted on several charges including first-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter related to Mackenzi’s death.

White has not been charged or arrested in connection with this case and could not be reached for comment. She served as Mackenzi’s caseworker from June 7, 2022 until May 17, 2023.

By late last year after Mackenzi's passing, White began working for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) as a child welfare specialist with an annual salary of $75,000 according to state comptroller records.

Lutheran Child and Family Services declined comment for this story while DCFS did not provide immediate comment.

"Agency dysfunction and mismanagement puts our most vulnerable kids in danger. DCFS needs comprehensive reforms to protect children in state care so this never happens again."

Schmidt is a Republican who was elected to represent Illinois' 114th House District in 2023 after replacing LaToya Greenwood.

https://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=103&MemberID=3210