Parents investigated year before boy died in pool

A year before 2-year-old Geno Valerio drowned at a home Sunday night, his parents were investigated by authorities on allegations of failing to provide medical care for the boy.

According to a state-mandated child welfare report, Clark County Child Protective Services opened a case on the family in April 2009. The case involved "concerns about the parents not following up with the medical care for the child."

The agency found the allegations to be substantiated. The case was closed two months later after medical case management program staff worked with the family, according to the report.

Just before 8 p.m. Sunday, Valerio was found dead in his family's backyard pool on the 4800 block of Santa Barbara Street, near U.S. Highway 95 and Tropicana Avenue. A family member called 911 after finding the toddler. Las Vegas police said the boy had been in the pool for "quite some time" and was supposed to be in a tub inside.

The Clark County coroner's office has not yet determined how the boy died.

The boy's siblings have been removed and placed in protective custody, according to the state report. Police are continuing to investigate the incident.

Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.