From The Banner · Jessica Calefati,Lee O. Sanderlin · · 1m 10s
Mother of foster teen who died in hotel sues Gov. Wes Moore, Marriott
Kanaiyah Ward's mother files wrongful death lawsuit against Gov. Wes Moore and Marriott over her death in Baltimore hotel.
In brief
Kanaiyah Ward's mother files wrongful death lawsuit against Gov. Wes Moore and Marriott over her death in Baltimore hotel. Kanaiyah Ward's mother sued Gov. Wes Moore, Marriott, and others for negligence after her foster daughter died alone in a Baltimore hotel in 2025. Originally reported by The Banner.
Kanaiyah Ward's death
16-year-old Kanaiyah Ward died alone in Baltimore hotel under one-on-one aide supervision in September 2025.
“Kanaiyah Ward died while under the supervision of a one-on-one aide at the Residence Inn Baltimore at the Johns Hopkins Medical Campus”
Mother files lawsuit
Brooke Ward's mother files federal civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit against Gov. Wes Moore, former Maryland Secretary of Human Services Rafael López, Marriott, and others.
“The mother of a foster teen who died alone last year in a Baltimore hotel has filed a federal civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit against Gov. Wes Moore, Marriott chain and others”
Lawsuit claims
Lawsuit states every institution with hand in Kanaiyah's care knew what she needed but failed her, from Governor's office to Marriott headquarters.
“Every institution with a hand in Kanaiyah’s care knew what she needed, and every one of them failed her”
State policy failure
Maryland allowed foster youth in hotels despite federal consent decree prohibiting unlicensed settings for foster youth.
“A federal consent decree has long prohibited Maryland from housing foster youth in unlicensed settings like offices and hotels”
Aide negligence
Fenwick Behavioral Services aide worked more than two days without relief, failing 24-hour supervision requirement.
“State investigators determined that Kanaiyah’s aide worked more than two days without relief, a failure that amounts to neglect”
State response
Maryland ordered relocation of all hotel-placed foster youth after Kanaiyah's death, despite prior reform efforts.
“Only after Kanaiyah’s death did the state order the relocation of every child living in a hotel”
Here's the gist
Kanaiyah Ward's mother sued Gov. Wes Moore, Marriott, and others for negligence after her foster daughter died alone in a Baltimore hotel in 2025.
