West Virginians got a horrific reminder last week of the depth from which those trying to reform the work of the state Department of Human Services are trying to climb, with news that on Feb. 15, 2025, 11-year-old Miana Moran of Taylor County died in a case that has led to murder charges for her primary custodian.

Miana was a sixth grader in virtual schooling through Upshur County Schools, according to a report by WCHS. A criminal complaint filed in Taylor County Magistrate Court said she weighed 43 pounds at her death.

According to the WCHS report, Miana was wearing a pull-up diaper and appeared severely malnourished — among other indicators of severe neglect — when she was found. Child Protective Services had visited her home and taken no action only weeks earlier, Taylor County Prosecuting Attorney John Bord said.

Shannon Robinson, 51, whose official relationship to Miana remains unclear, has been charged with murder of a child by a parent, guardian or custodian by refusal or failure to provide necessities, and child neglect resulting in death. Robinson was indicted last week. Since that indictment, Miana’s biological father, Aaron Moran, 42, of Grafton, has also been indicted on the same charges.

In addition to the myriad questions about how in the world anyone from CPS could have visited Miana that close to her death and not taken action, there is another factor. She was enrolled in virtual school, and we KNOW there are parents who keep their kids away from the watchful eye of public school teachers, administrators and staff because those people are caring, observant mandated reporters.

Miana was transferred from Taylor County Schools into Upshur County’s virtual school program while she was in the third grade, according to WCHS’s reporting. As Upshur County Schools Superintendent Christy Miller put it, the county’s virtual program was not under the same level of scrutiny then as it is now.

“When the program first began, any student from any county could sign up to participate in Upshur County’s virtual offering. It did not require any in-person meeting with parents or students,” she told WCHS. “As I was auditing all programs in the county, it was apparent quickly to me that there were not enough guardrails up to ensure students and families were being held accountable for all aspects of participation.”

But even having said that, Miller acknowledged the county was still developing its in-person testing procedures during the 2024-25 school year, when all of Miana’s testing was completed from home.

“Students are now required to appear in person to complete testing,” she said.

Good.

Miller also told WCHS no one from Upshur County Schools had made CPS referrals regarding Miana.

An investigation is ongoing. And while those in Charleston say they are working every day toward improving the system in which precious West Virginia children were STILL dying in the earliest days of the Morrisey administration, Miana’s death coming to light now must give them a fierce sense of urgency. At the same time, lawmakers are duty-bound to do all they can to strengthen protections for children in virtual and home schooling. It is absolutely necessary. Now. There can no longer be any question on that front.