The Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands on St Croix. Photo: VIC

Attorney Atiim Abraham, representing Jeremiah, asserts that the evidence will prove that Tamir’s death was preventable. “We submit that after we have presented all the evidence to a jury of the Plaintiff’s peers, they will agree with us that young Tamir’s life mattered. Tamir had a right to live, he had a right to have friends, he had a right to live a long life, longevity,” said Abraham.

According to the attorney, the Defendants—including LSSVI and the Department of Human Services (DHS)—failed to take responsibility for their actions and continued to operate under the same practices that led to Tamir’s death. “The absolute worst part about this is they blamed the Plaintiff, accusing her of causing her own son’s death,” Abraham said, adding that the facility disregarded multiple requests for the child’s autopsy report.

According to an autopsy report released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in July 2020, Tamir suffered from blunt force trauma to the head, which led to a seizure while he was in the custody of Queen Louise Home for Children. The DOJ ruled the case a homicide and transferred it to the V.I. Police Department for further investigation. However, no criminal charges were filed in connection to his death.

Attorney Abraham emphasized that the damages sought in the lawsuit reflect both the financial burden and the need for accountability. While he estimates that a jury might award between $50 million and $150 million, he acknowledges that the defendants cannot afford such an amount, leading to the $2.5 million settlement demand.

Jeremiah’s complaint outlines a series of failures by medical personnel and state agencies to provide adequate care for Tamir. The child was born prematurely at 31 weeks in July 2018 at Juan F. Luis Hospital. Following his birth, he exhibited visible abnormalities, including a deformed head shape and feeding issues. Despite his mother’s repeated concerns and multiple visits to healthcare providers, she was allegedly dismissed.

By December 2018, Tamir’s health had worsened, prompting Jeremiah to take him to the hospital again. During his hospital stay, several nurses struggled to insert an IV, resulting in bruising and swelling. Shortly after, he suffered a seizure, prompting medical professionals to conduct a CT scan that revealed bleeding in the brain. He was subsequently airlifted to Miami Children's Hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with multiple skull fractures, suggesting that his injuries were the result of either violent shaking or blunt force trauma.

Despite these findings, DHS took custody of Tamir in early 2019, placing him in Queen Louise Home for Children, a facility managed by LSSVI. Jeremiah fought for over a year to regain custody of her son, only to receive the devastating news of his passing on May 5, 2020.

Jeremiah claims that LSSVI failed to provide the necessary medical attention and supervision for Tamir’s condition. “The cause of death is Queen Louise’s negligence; that child had been with them from six months old,” she said, further criticizing Juan F. Luis Hospital for failing to properly investigate his condition.

A medical examination from DHS’s Division of Children, Youth, and Families concluded there was no evidence of parental neglect and initially recommended that Tamir be returned to his mother. However, DHS moved forward with court proceedings and obtained custody of the child, citing Jeremiah’s lack of proper identification documents at the time.

On February 25, 2025, Jeremiah’s legal team formally submitted a settlement offer to Lutheran Social Services through their attorney, William Crabill of Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A. The letter outlines the failures of DHS and LSSVI, including claims that Tamir’s allergies were ignored, his medical needs neglected, and staff failed to conduct proper safety checks.

The lawsuit also highlights the emotional toll on Jeremiah and her family, particularly Tamir’s older brother, who continues to struggle with his sibling’s loss. “The circumstances surrounding Tamir’s death remain a fresh, open wound within the psyche of immediate family members,” the letter states.

Jeremiah’s legal team asserts that nothing short of a full settlement will be accepted. “We will not be settling this case for a penny less than the $2.5 million,” said Abraham, signaling readiness to take the case to trial if necessary.

The lawsuit is expected to move forward unless LSSVI agrees to the settlement terms. Meanwhile, no criminal charges have been filed, despite the DOJ’s ruling that Tamir’s death was a homicide. 

Jeremiah’s attorneys maintain that if the case proceeds to trial, they will seek a verdict that could permanently shut down the facility, preventing further harm to children under its care.