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Death Of Brooklyn girl, 4, Prompts Grand Jury Review

NEW YORK (AP) -- A grand jury has been convened to hear evidence surrounding the death of an underweight 4-year-old New York City girl found dead in her home last month.

The Brooklyn district attorney's office said Thursday that the Administration for Children's Services, a contractor and an upstate hospital had been subpoenaed.

Marchella Pierce was under ACS supervision when she died Sept. 2. She weighed 18 pounds.

The agency hired Child Development Support Corporation to monitor the girl. Northwoods Health Systems, now known as Pathways, treated her.

An ACS spokeswoman said it is cooperating with the investigation. The contractor said in a statement it was not responsible for the girl's death. They say their contract with ACS ended June 30. The hospital declined comment.

The girl's mother has been charged and is being held on $300,000 bail. The name of her attorney was not immediately available.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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