As a concerned resident of Reno, Nevada, I was devastated by the tragic death of 5-year-old Izabella Loving. According to KOLO News (April 12, 2025), Izabella was forced to sleep in a 5x5 makeshift cubby and suffered severe abuse, with her father, Nicholas Loving, charged in her death. Community members reported concerns to Child Protective Services (CPS) before her death, but the case was closed, per MyNews4 (April 2025). Lynnae Niederkorn told MyNews4, “I know people had reached out and talked to CPS and the case was shut down, and there’s a lot of outrage about that.” Ashley Viney, a therapist who knew Izabella, reported “many reports to CPS,” per MyNews4, feeling “nothing being done” contributed to the tragedy and noting Izabella’s scared demeanor from age three.

Community members believe signs of abuse were missed, as the CPS case was closed despite their reports. In my opinion, Izabella and her siblings should have been protected. This case is not isolated. In 2019, about 678,000 children were victims of abuse or neglect nationwide (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2019 Child Maltreatment report), highlighting the urgent need for reform.

I urge lawmakers to investigate CPS procedures and implement reforms, including:

•  Mandatory follow-up visits within 30 days of case closure.

•  Annual training for deception detection and abuse recognition.

•  Improved case assessment protocols.

Sign this petition to demand justice for Izabella and ensure no child slips through the cracks of our child protection system.