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HAMILTON — Liz Carroll's murder conviction will stand, and state lawmakers hope new legislation prevents other foster parents from taking the lives of those they're meant to protect.

Gov. Ted Strickland signed a bill into law Wednesday, May 14, aimed at protecting foster children by tracking the crimes of foster parents.

This came a week after the Ohio Supreme Court refused to hear Carroll's appeal on charges of killing 3-year-old Middletown foster child Marcus Fiesel by leaving the toddler bound in a closet while taking a weekend trip.

The bill, sponsored by Ohio Sen. Tim Niehaus, R-New Richmond, establishes a database to notify state and county agencies immediately if a foster parent is arrested for a crime that would preclude him or her from being a foster parent.

The bill also expands that list of precluding offenses to include permitting child abuse, menacing by stalking, cruelty to animals and repeat drunk driving.

Niehaus said the legislation is a response to Fiesel's death. David Carroll Jr. — Fiesel's foster father who pleaded guilty along with his wife — had been arrested for domestic violence two months before the toddler's death, but children services agencies had no knowledge of the arrest.

This bill follows another sponsored by Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Hamilton. That bill, aimed at increasing screening for foster parents, was signed into law in February.

Butler County Children Services Director Michael Fox said the legislation is a good start, but Butler County is already doing more, and the state should follows suit.

"Setting a minimum statewide standard is obviously a good thing," Fox said.

Combs agreed. "We're going to continue to meet and strategize and see how we can make the system more protective," he said.

Sue Gregory, president of the Butler County Foster and Adoptive Support Team, said more oversight will protect children and won't scare off foster parents.

"If it's in your heart to do it, these things don't bother you," Gregory said.

Contact this reporter at jsweigart@coxohio.com.

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