# Massachusetts Pays $10m for Boy's Death

> Massachusetts settles $10m lawsuit after 14-year-old boy died in 2020 due to neglect.
- Title: Massachusetts Pays $10m for Boy's Death · The Boston Globe
- Summary: Massachusetts settles $10m lawsuit after 14-year-old boy died in 2020 due to neglect. Massachusetts pays $10m to settle lawsuit over death of autistic boy…
- Keywords: massachusetts, dcf, david almond, autism, child protection, lawsuit, settlement, malnutrition, neglect, foster care, news, local
- Source: The Boston Globe — https://bostonglobe.com/2026/10/21/metro/dcf-david-almond-massachusetts-death-children
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: massachusetts, dcf, david almond, autism, child protection, lawsuit, settlement, malnutrition, neglect, foster care, news, local
## Massachusetts to pay $10m
Massachusetts expected to pay $10 million to settle lawsuit over 2020 death by malnutrition and neglect of a 14-year-old boy.
## Brothers receive $2.9m each
Two surviving brothers each get $2.9 million trust from settlement, both now adults with autism.
## Memorial fund for neurodivergent youth
Another $600,000 set aside for memorial fund supporting nonprofits and schools serving neurodivergent children.
## Scholarship for neurodivergent youth
$150,000 supports scholarship for college, vocational, or technical training for neurodivergent children in foster care.
## Attorneys' fees: $3.4m
Attorneys' fees account for an additional $3.4 million of the settlement.
## David died Oct 21, 2020
David died Oct. 21, 2020 while in custody of father John Almond, weighing 80 pounds.
## DCF mishandled case
DCF reversed course in 2020 after removing triplets from father's care in 2017 despite warnings about father's unfit status.
## Key takeaway

Massachusetts pays $10m to settle lawsuit over death of autistic boy after state child protection agency mishandled his case.