Rilya Shenise Wilson (born September 29, 1996)[1] was an American child who was placed in the foster care system of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), and was the centerpoint of an investigation into neglect and mismanagement in the organization.
[2] DCF did not discover her disappearance until two years later, when she was not found living at the home of her caretaker and alleged godmother or grandmother, Geralyn Graham.
The last recorded welfare check of Rilya Wilson took place in early January 2001, by social worker Deborah Muskelly.
[5] Manville Cash, a man currently incarcerated for auto theft and drug charges, was listed as the girl's "prospective father" on documents terminating her birth mother's parental rights.
Kendrick testified against Graham at her trial, claiming that both of them had spanked Rilya with switches and had locked her in a dog cage and in the laundry room.
In her testimony, Lunceford revealed that Graham admitted to killing Rilya because the child was "evil" and was plagued by "demons" from previous abuse.
[8] The case led to the resignation of DCF director Kathleen Kearney and the passage of several reform laws, including a new missing-child-tracking system and the contracting out of foster child casework to private organizations.