The department of children and families is a mess. The agency even admits it.   Four in your corner is going to give you a glimpse of just how bad things are. We're going to take you inside the case file of Joshua Jenkins. The 6-year old southwest Florida child who was murdered this week. His step-father is accused of the killing. And DCF was aware the Joshua was being abused long before the murder. FOX 4's Erica Pitzi spent the day looking through the file.

  About an inch thick, and practically every page, are documents of how DCF dropped the ball, leaving a boy to die.

  When DCF first met Joshua Jenkins, he was four-years-old with "finger-shaped bruises" on his chin.   According to the case file, Joshua told investigators "daddy did it."  Meaning his stepfather, Phillipe Gayle.

  An official from the boy's school said "Joshua came into school with new marks." That contradicted what the mother, Rebecca Jenkins' said, insisting her son's injuries came from inside school, by a student named Kristin or Kendell.

  The school official stated "there were not any kids with that name."  Then the boy switched his story, denying any abuse from either parent.   The investigation was closed with no indicators of abuse.

  Just two months later another hotline tip about Joshua. This time investigators found bruises around the boy's wrist.   Joshua told investigators dad told him to keep his hands to his side because he was misbehaving.   But "the school is very much concerned." DCF recommended parenting and anger management classes for the parents.

  The investigator wrote she had concern about two reports in a short time. Adding, "If another report is received, and parents failed to follow recommendations, judicial action will be requested."

  The case was closed with indicators of abuse that had implications for the child's safety.   But no one followed-up with the Jenkins family and in the month of May a third hotline tip straight from the school.

  DCF investigators found bruises again.   Rebecca Jenkins told them she was being harassed by the school, saying "her son bruises easily."

  Another investigator confirmed Joshua has a medical condition where he bruises easily, concluding "overall risk is low."

  Obviously, that was not the case. Joshua's safety risk was so high, he died.   The head of DCF in our area admitted to FOX 4's Erica Pitzi, the agency dropped the ball back when abuse was reported the second time. During the third investigation, DCF says there was a complete breakdown of documentation and communication.

  The case should have gone straight to court last may to decide if the boy should have been taken out of the home because at that time investigators knew the step-father was abusing little Joshua.

Patrick - "it seems like there are a bunch of investigators that were involved with inconsistent viewpoints. Did that play into all of the miscommunication?"

Erica - "absolutely. From what i could tell, there were at least 5 different investigators, and get this, the last investigators to talk with the Jenkins in May, who were supposed to follow-up, actually left the agency late last year.

  While Joshua's bruising condition did not play a role in his death, DCF admits it played a role in how investigators may have overlooked what was really going on.   Florida's child welfare case workers are moving into the 21st century.   They're receiving handheld GPS devices to electronically update case information during home visits.   The touch-screen devices are similar to ones carried by UPS drivers.