The Newburgh Enlarged City School District has settled a lawsuit filed by the brother of 7-year-old Peter Cuacuas, who starved to death in 2021. The suit accused the district and Temple Hill Academy of failing to report the boy's excessive absences from virtual classes.
Peter Cuacuas died on February 10, 2021, from malnutrition after his caregiver, Leticia Bravo, kept him locked in a room. He weighed 37 pounds at the time of his death. Bravo, who became his primary caregiver in September 2020, is serving a 15-year prison sentence for first-degree manslaughter. The boy's father, Arturo Cuacuas, received a sentence of 1.33 to 4 years for criminally negligent homicide.
The complaint alleged that Peter missed all virtual classes from December 2020 until his death. It claimed the district did not comply with reporting requirements under New York education law despite reasonable cause to suspect neglect. Officials never sent anyone to check on the boy at 135 William Street in Newburgh.
The settlement was confirmed recently by the district and the family's lawyer. It includes no admission of wrongdoing or liability by the district. The loss of a child is a tragedy that deeply affects our entire community, a district spokesperson said.
