US News
Mother sues Maryland governor and Marriott over teen's foster care hotel death
The Washington Sun reports that Brooke Ward has sued Maryland's governor and Marriott over her 16-year-old daughter's 2025 death in a foster care hotel placement.
The short version
- Brooke Ward filed a lawsuit against Maryland's governor, Marriott and more than a dozen other defendants seeking damages for civil rights violations and wrongful death.[The Washington Sun]
- Her daughter, 16-year-old Kanaiyah Ward, died of a drug overdose ruled a suicide in September 2025 while staying in a Marriott Residence Inn room where the state's foster care system had placed her.[The Washington Sun]
- Marriott did not respond to a request for comment, and Maryland prosecutors declined to charge anyone criminally in connection with the death.[The Washington Sun]
Key facts
- Kanaiyah Ward died of a drug overdose ruled a suicide in September 2025 while staying in a Marriott Residence Inn hotel room where Maryland's foster care system had placed her.[The Washington Sun]
- Brooke Ward filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Maryland's governor, Marriott and more than a dozen other defendants, seeking damages for civil rights violations and wrongful death.[The Washington Sun]
- Maryland prosecutors declined to charge anyone criminally in connection with Kanaiyah Ward's death.[The Washington Sun]
- Marriott did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.[The Washington Sun]
What remains uncertain
- The lawsuit's allegations, including that Kanaiyah was left unwatched, are unadjudicated; the basis is the filed complaint as described in the reporting.[The Washington Sun]
- Marriott's position on the allegations is unknown because it did not respond to a request for comment.[The Washington Sun]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- The Family of a Teen Who Died in Foster Care Is Suing Maryland, MarriottThe Washington Sun