Concerns began long before Summer’s death

Washington child welfare officials logged at least a half dozen complaints about the adults in charge of Summer Phelps’ care before the 4-year-old’s death by abuse in March, newly released state records show.

Most were dueling accusations between the child’s estranged parents dating nearly to her birth in July 2002.

But two were from day-care providers or social service advocates worried that the girl may have been neglected and sexually abused before she arrived in Spokane.

“She walks around with her hands in her pants and she says, ‘Owie, owie,’ ” a Poulsbo, Wash., day-care provider said in a January 2006 report, noting that Summer, then 3, arrived with no coat, no socks and no underwear.

“When she is near water or if she gets water on her clothes, she cries and screams.”

None of the incidents logged in the state Department of Social and Health Services database rose above “information only” concerns except a low-risk referral in June 2006 by a Spokane public health nurse who suspected that Summer’s stepmother, Adriana Lytle, was mistreating her then-unborn child.

Adriana Lytle fired that nurse within weeks of the referral, records showed, and agreed to services provided through a state First Steps program contractor.

In September, Sandra Gorman Brown, a social worker from that agency, noted that the new baby was being treated well and that there had been no new neglect or abuse allegations involving Summer.

“No activity so no cause for concern noted,” the record said.

A nurse from the program continued to visit the family monthly, regularly checking on both children even though the contract limited care to the baby, according to a statement from Summer’s father, Jonathan Lytle, to Spokane police.

The nurse’s scheduled visit on March 10 prompted Lytle to take his daughter for a car ride, in part to avoid scrutiny of her bruises and other injuries, police records indicated.

Hours later, Lytle brought Summer’s limp, battered body to the Deaconess Medical Center emergency room, saying the child hit her head and fell asleep.

Jonathan Lytle, 28, and his wife, Adriana Lytle, 32, are awaiting January trials on charges of homicide by abuse.

Summer’s short life was punctuated by allegations of homelessness, neglect and abuse, according to records released by the state Children’s Administration in response to a request by The Spokesman-Review.

“Her mother, Elizabeth Phelps, of Poulsbo, was 18 when Summer was born on July 6, 2002. Two months later, Jonathan Lytle filed the first referral about Summer’s care, alleging that his former girlfriend was homeless and that she took the baby from house to house and smoked marijuana every day.

“Less than a year later, in June 2003, a friend or relative told state workers that Phelps was living in tents or campgrounds with 10-month-old Summer.

“In December 2003 and September 2004, Phelps told caseworkers that Lytle was sexually abusing the child during visits.

“She does not want me to touch her at all or to change her diaper or to clean up her diapers. Her diaper rash is getting worse after her visits with the father,” the report said. “Summer does not want to go with him at all, does not want to see Jonathan.”

“In April 2005, an advocate at the Skagit County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Awareness program in Mount Vernon reported that Phelps had said Lytle was continuing to abuse Summer, but that the mother had agreed to send the little girl to live with her dad.

“Mother told referrer father has a new girlfriend that Summer really likes,” the report said. “Mother thinks Summer may be better off living with her.”

“In June 2005, Jonathan Lytle reported that Phelps had abandoned the girl by leaving her with him in Spokane.

“In January 2006, the day-care worker reported concerns about neglect and abuse.

“Summer screams and cries when anyone tries to change her clothes,” the report said.

“In June 2006, Jan Bostian, a public health nurse from the Spokane Regional Health District, alleged that Adriana Lytle was mistreating her unborn child, records showed.

Details of those allegations are not public under state law, which requires disclosure of abuse or neglect only when a child has died. Bostian was working through the health district’s role as a contractor for the First Steps program that sends nurses to help poor women and their babies. Cathy Cochrane, a spokeswoman for the district, said she couldn’t comment beyond what was released in public files.

Adriana Lytle discontinued services with Bostian soon after, health district records indicated. She re-enrolled in the voluntary First Steps program with a new provider, Family Home and Hospice of Spokane.

Summer’s child welfare case file ends with the details of her late-night arrival in the Spokane emergency room.

“Dad showed up at Deaconess Hospital with Summer. She was covered w/bruises,” the report read.

Several police officers reported that Jonathan Lytle exhibited little emotion at the news of his daughter’s death.

“His demeanor appeared to be more nervous than distraught,” Sgt. Charles Reynolds wrote.

“I guess I’m going to prison,” Lytle told Reynolds. “I didn’t even do anything. I just drove her here.”