Politics e2000 Iowa Capitol Insights Kate Thompson reports from the Iowa state capitol and beyond. The mark of a newspaper approved classified. Terms of use agreement Best viewed with Netscape Communicator . Her mother and the mother's boyfriend have been charged with murder. Repeated reports of suspected abuse over a period of months to the Iowa Department of Human Services weren't enough to save her life.
Officials say they want to take steps to see if future cases can be prevented.
A meeting has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Senior Center in Spirit Lake, said Rep. Greg Stevens, D-Milford. Stevens and a number of those concerned about the case will attend. The governor and Jessie Rasmussen, DHS director, have been invited but have not yet agreed to attend. He has been talking with a number of area residents who knew the toddler and are upset over her death. Autopsy reports showed that Shelby died from massive injuries inflicted over an extended period of weeks or months.