Massachusetts to pay $10M settlement in death of David Almond, citing DCF failures

Funds will support surviving brothers and create memorial programs for neurodivergent children

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published26 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Massachusetts has agreed to pay $10 million to settle claims over the Department of Children and Families’ alleged role in the death of 14-year-old David Almond, who died of starvation and neglect in a Fall River apartment in October 2020. The settlement was announced Wednesday, six years to the day after his death.

The agreement, filed in Suffolk Superior Court by attorneys for Almond's estate and from Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office, resolves a lawsuit brought last year by Almond's estate and his two surviving triplet brothers. A judge had earlier denied the state's motion to dismiss the case.

David Almond was found emaciated, bruised and unresponsive at his father’s home in Fall River in October 2020. A report from the Office of the Child Advocate, which then-Gov. Charlie Baker called “incredibly damning,” found that DCF missed key warning signs and made a decision that “was not clinically justified” when it returned Almond and a brother to the drug-filled home they had been removed from three years earlier. His father, John Almond, and his girlfriend, Jaclyn Coleman, both pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and were sentenced to life in prison in March 2023.

If approved by the court, the settlement will establish independently managed lifelong special needs trusts for the surviving Almond brothers, each receiving about $2.9 million. It will also create two funds through the SouthCoast Community Foundation: a $150,000 memorial scholarship giving priority to neurodivergent children in Massachusetts foster care, and a $600,000 memorial fund for grants to nonprofits and schools serving neurodivergent people. Nearly $3.5 million will go to the attorneys who represented the Almond estate.

“This settlement ensures David’s brothers have the resources they need to build a full and productive life, and it creates a lasting legacy in David’s name for other children like him who depend on the state to keep them safe,” said Kimberly Dougherty of Justice Law Collaborative, which represents the estate.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The settlement holds the state accountable for a death the Office of the Child Advocate called preventable, highlighting systemic failures in child protection.
The funds create long-term support for the surviving brothers, both of whom also have autism, and establish resources for neurodivergent children in state care.
The case has already prompted “sweeping changes” at agencies serving children, per the source, and this settlement may reinforce reform efforts.

Background

David Almond died in October 2020 after being found in deplorable conditions at his father's home. An OCA report released March 2021 said DCF had missed warning signs when it returned him and a brother to a drug-filled home from which they had previously been removed. The death was ruled a homicide caused by starvation and neglect. His father and his girlfriend were later convicted of second-degree murder. The lawsuit against the state was filed last year.

Key Perspectives

What to Watch

Court approval of the $10 million settlement, which is required to finalize the agreement.
Whether the “sweeping changes” at DCF and other agencies are sustained or lead to further legislative action.
Potential impact on similar pending cases or policy debates around child welfare oversight in Massachusetts.

Sources

Mass. agrees to pay $10 million settlement in the death of 14-year-old David Almond · WBUR News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 7 supported.

Show each claim

Not in the sourcesThe settlement is being paid “citing DCF failures.”WBUR News: “The claims against were brought by Almond's estate and his two surviving triplet brothers.”
Partly supportedFunds will support the surviving brothers and create memorial programs for neurodivergent children.WBUR News: “If approved by the court, the settlement would establish independently managed lifelong special needs trusts for the surviving Almond brothers”
SupportedMassachusetts agreed to a $10 million settlement over DCF’s alleged role in David Almond’s death.WBUR News: “Massachusetts has agreed to pay $10 million to settle claims over the Department of Children and Families's alleged role in the death of David Almond.”
SupportedThe settlement was announced Wednesday, six years to the day after Almond’s death.WBUR News: “The settlement agreement was announced Wednesday, six years to the day after 14-year-old died of starvation and neglect”
Partly supportedAttorneys filed the settlement agreement in Suffolk Superior Court.WBUR News: “Last Wednesday, attorneys for Almond's estate and from Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office filed an assented-to motion for approval of a $10 million settlement to resolve the case.”
SupportedAlmond died of starvation and neglect in a Fall River apartment in October 2020.WBUR News: “The settlement agreement was announced Wednesday, six years to the day after 14-year-old died of starvation and neglect after being found in a Fall River apartment.”
SupportedThe OCA report said DCF missed warning signs and made a decision that “was not clinically justified.”WBUR News: “the OCA said DCF missed key warning signs and made a decision that "was not clinically justified"”
Partly supportedThe home was one the children had been removed from three years earlier.WBUR News: “when it returned Almond and a brother to the drug-filled home that the child protection agency had removed them from about three years earlier.”
SupportedJohn Almond and Jaclyn Coleman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and were sentenced to life in prison in March 2023.WBUR News: “John Almond and his girlfriend, Jaclyn Coleman, both pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and were sentenced to life in prison in March 2023.”
SupportedThe settlement would give each surviving brother about $2.9 million through a lifelong special needs trust.WBUR News: “If approved by the court, the settlement would establish independently managed lifelong special needs trusts for the surviving Almond brothers (about $2.9 million each)”
Partly supportedThe $600,000 memorial fund will make grants to nonprofits and schools serving neurodivergent people.WBUR News: “a $600,000 memorial fund for grants to Massachusetts nonprofits and schools that serve neurodivergent people”
SupportedKimberly Dougherty said, “This settlement ensures David’s brothers have the resources they need to build a full and productive life, and it creates a lasting legacy in David’s name for other children like him who depend on the state to keep them safe.”WBUR News: “"This settlement ensures David’s brothers have the resources they need to build a full and productive life, and it creates a lasting legacy in David’s name for other children like him who depend on the state to keep them safe," Kimberly Dougherty of Justice Law Collaborative”