Claim filed against WA agencies after 5-year-old allegedly tortured to death

Warning: This article contains descriptions of child abuse that may be disturbing to some readers.

A tort claim has been filed against two Washington state agencies, claiming they failed to protect a 5-year-old who was allegedly killed by her father.

Attorneys representing the estate of the 5-year-old special needs girl have filed the claim against the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and Child Protective Services (CPS), alleging “gross negligence and a systemic failure to intervene despite years of warning signs,” according to a news release from Tacoma law firm Cochran Douglas.

The claim asserts CPS received several reports of physical abuse by the father, 29-year-old Woo Jin Hanh, for at least three years before his daughter’s death.

“This was not a case that came out of nowhere,” Loren Cochran, attorney for the family, stated in the news release. “There were repeated reports of violence against children in that home. CPS had every chance — and every obligation — to step in and protect this vulnerable little girl. Instead, they looked away. The result was torture, and the horrific loss of a child who should still be alive today.”

Federal Way father charged with assault, interfering with domestic violence reporting

Hanh was charged with four counts of assault and one count of interfering with domestic violence reporting in June, according to KIRO 7.

In May, officers responded to the Glen Park Apartments in Federal Way for an unresponsive child.

When officers arrived, they found Hahn performing CPR on the child. One officer noticed the girl had several large bruises and cuts on her forehead.

The girl was transported to Harborview Medical Center, but died from her injuries.

Court documents detail alleged abuse

Hahn allegedly told officers he caused the bruises on her face from disciplining her the night before. According to court documents, he allegedly hit her with a metal cup and would “discipline” her by hitting her with a cup or stick.

Hahn’s girlfriend, who lived in the apartment, told officers she saw him punch the girl in the stomach and push her against a wall. Hahn said he did it as punishment because she went to the bathroom outside the toilet, court documents stated.

Hahn also said he “snapped” when his daughter had food poisoning and knocked over her potty. He then allegedly tied his daughter to a pull-up bar and tied her feet to the toilet, and left her there for around three hours, according to court documents.

Hahn told authorities he was the reason his daughter was in that condition, and that she likely died from injuries he caused.

“This case is about accountability and about making sure this never happens to another child,” Cochran said in the news release. “Washington’s child protection system exists to keep kids safe. In this case, it failed in the most tragic way possible.”

Cochran noted that under Washington law, a tort claim must be filed before a lawsuit can proceed against state agencies.

Contributing: KIRO 7

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