The mother of a 15-month-old boy who died on a court-ordered visit to his father has filed a lawsuit against the psychologist who sanctioned the visitation.
Hera McLeod of Gaithersburg, Md., filed the $20 million suit Tuesday in Fairfax County against Ashburn Psychological Services and psychologist Margaret Wong. The suit alleges professional negligence resulting in wrongful death.
McLeod says Wong's report was instrumental in a judge's decision to grant unsupervised visitation of her son, Prince McLeod Rams, to his father, Joaquin Rams.
Prince died Oct. 21 during his fourth unsupervised visit with his father. Joaquin Rams has been charged with first-degree murder. Authorities say that during the three-hour visit, he drowned the boy to collect a life insurance policy.
"I have been living in a version of hell I do not wish on anyone," McLeod said.
McLeod says Wong ignored clear warning signs that the father was dangerous, and that the psychologist's report contained "inaccuracies and omissions" that led to Joaquin Rams being granted visitation.
The psychology practice did not return a call seeking comment.
"There is no price or there is no lawsuit that is going to bring him back, but what I can do as his mom is I can make sure that nobody will forget him," McLeod said, who fled the relationship with Rams about two weeks after Prince was born.
Prosecutors say Rams is still under suspicion in the 2003 shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, Shawn Mason, but he has never been charged.
Last year, Joseph Velez -- Rams' half-brother -- described his Rams as "a monster,'' describing how even at age three, his younger brother attacked him on the head with a hammer he had hidden behind his back as he feigned a request for a kiss.
Like Hera McLeod, Velez expressed frustration at police who failed to make a case in the slaying of Shawn Mason.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
