Social worker who applied to have Alex removed from Radita home calls for ‘Alex Alert’

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A Vancouver social worker who once applied to have Alex Radita removed from his family home, is calling for changes to be made to the system.

Patricia McDonald found it emotional to be in a Calgary courtroom as Emil and Rodica Radita were found guilty of first-degree murder.

McDonald would like to see lawmakers create something similar to an Amber Alert, perhaps named an ‘Alex Alert’ to red flag those at-risk children.

“I’m not sure how to devise it but it would be some sort of way of messaging from Vancouver Island right to PEI that we have families that have left, and there are children at risk and they need to be red-flagged, they need to be picked up on and they need to be checked on,” she told reporters.

Not long after McDonald’s application, the Raditas left the Vancouver area and resettled in northwest Calgary where he died a few years later.

Paramedics testified he weighed only 37 pounds at the time of his death and had a ‘mummified appearance.’

“I’m glad it’s over, it’s just been very difficult,” said McDonald.

She’s been talking to her local member of Parliament and is inviting anyone who feels the same way to come forward and join her in her efforts.

The social worker of 23 years had traveled to Calgary in hopes of finding some closure and to see Alex’s parents one last time.

“I’ve never met parents like them in my life and I’ve worked with a lot of parents,” she said. “I just feel like they’re so empty, they’re void of any kind of emotion or any kind of feeling.”

Crown attorney Susan Pepper who spoke with reporters after the verdict, applauded the decision but adds it’s clear improvements need to be made.

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