TAMPA, Fla. -- One year ago today, we woke up to news of a heartbreaking crime: 5-year-old Phoebe Jonchuck thrown nearly 70 feet off The Dick Misener Bridge by her own father -- John Jonchuck, according to deputies.
ORIGINAL STORY: Friend shocked by dad's actions, daughter's death
Since her death, changes have been made within the Department of Children and Families but many people say more still needs to be done.
"It's been a tough year," says attorney Genevieve Torres.
Torres says, a day hasn't gone by that she doesn't think about 5-year-old Phoebe Jonchuck.
"I still get emotional, obviously, when talking about it. I haven't gone to [the] Sunshine Skyway. I won't go," says Torres. "I can't. I'm not ready."
But Torres says she was ready the day of Jan. 7 when John came into her office with Phoebe. He started talking about wanting to be baptized and how nothing would matter by tomorrow.
"It didn't make any sense," says Torres.
Jonchuck left her office and Torres called 911 hoping they could help.
"I couldn't believe they let him go," says Torres.
Records show, deputies didn't find any reason to believe anything was wrong when they met up with Jonchuck at a church.
"I called 911 in the morning, and DCF in the afternoon. I figured if they can't baker act him then surely they'll go investigate and see if the child is safe," says Torres.
DCF's hotline found her call to be insufficient for a follow up.
"I wish the outcome could['ve] be[en] different," says Torres.
The next day, a new law would be implemented where if someone calls the hotline because someone has a psychotic episode—someone has to respond within 4 hours.
"There's a clear issue with DCF that impedes them from properly monitoring children under their supervision," says Torres.
When 10News WTSP asked: "What did you think about those changes?"
"They had to do something, but I just think it's bigger than that," says Arthenia Joyner, State Senator.
Senator Joiner knows Phoebe's not the only child to die this year in the system.
Here in the Bay area, 12 children lost their lives—including Janiya Thomas and Chance Walsh.
RELATED STORY: Child's body found in freezer believed to be Janiya
RELATED STORY: Sheriff believes body found to be missing infant Chance
When 10News WTSP asked: "Are you shocked that a year has gone by and still not too many changes have been made?"
"We are not being sufficiently reactive, not even proactive. We the lawmakers know the system is flawed. It needs to be thrown out and redone," says Sen. Joyner.
Senator Joyner agrees with Torres. More change is needed for the sake of our children.
"I would throw it all out and start from scratch and look at best practices all over the nation because what Florida is doing is not enough as evidence by all these deaths that have occurred to our children that only want to be loved," says Sen. Joyner.
John Jonchuck is currently in a prison mental facility receiving treatment after he was found incompetent to stand trial by a judge.
PREVIOUS STORIES:
GALLERY:
