LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Jim Runestad will host a press conference Wednesday morning demanding accountability from Child Protective Services after the agency’s failure to intervene led to the death of Ethan Belcher and urging the passage of Senate Bill 605 to help prevent such tragedies from happening again.

Who: Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake.

Ashley Belcher, Ethan’s aunt.

Zach Runyan, family attorney.

What: Press conference demanding accountability for the failures by CPS in its handling of Ethan Belcher’s case and urging the passage of SB 605 to prevent future CPS failures.

When: 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Where: Michigan State Capitol, Room 403.

Brief: In 2023, Ethan Belcher died from extreme abuse by his mother and stepfather. Despite CPS being aware of extensive abuse, repulsive living conditions in the home and repeated pleas from other family members, CPS took no action to ensure Ethan’s safety, ultimately leading to his death.

Ethan’s mother and stepfather were charged with murder, child abuse and torture, and sentenced to life in prison. However, no disciplinary action has been taken against CPS or the caseworkers involved. Ashley Belcher, Ethan’s aunt and the personal representative of his estate, has since filed two lawsuits against child welfare officials for failing to protect her nephew.

The press conference will honor Ethan’s life, highlight serious failures within CPS and demand that those responsible be held to account. It will also underscore the need for Runestad’s legislation to allow legislators and credentialed members of the media to request and access CPS files to expose agency failures and help prevent future deaths.

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