HOBART | The Department of Child Services is investigating the mother of 2-year-old Jada Justice, a spokeswoman for the department confirmed Friday.

Child Services spokeswoman Ann Houseworth said an assessment into the safety of Melissa Swiontek's four surviving children was opened after the report of Jada's alleged abduction.

"While I can't speculate on whether the assessment was a result of her disappearance, I can say the assessment was opened as the result of a valid report," Houseworth said.

She said the allegations in the report met the level of abuse or neglect listed in the state statute.

Houseworth could not say whether that information surfaced during the investigation into Jada's disappearance. She declined further comment, citing rules of confidentiality.

Neither Swiontek nor Clarence Justice, the biological father of Jada and two of Swiontek's other children, could be reached Friday for comment. Justice's wife, Elizabeth, declined comment on his behalf.

Swiontek has said she dropped Jada off with baby sitter and cousin Engelica Castillo on June 8.

Swiontek previously told The Times she intended to leave Jada with Castillo until Father's Day - nearly two weeks after she dropped her daughter off.

She said she last spoke to Jada on June 12. Swiontek called June 13 and spoke to Castillo, but not to her daughter.

Castillo and boyfriend Tim Tkachik told police Jada was dropped off at their Hobart home to be potty-trained, court records state.

The couple was charged Friday with murder, neglect, battery and false informing for the toddler's death, Lake Criminal Court records state. Jada's body was found Thursday in rural LaPorte County, officials said.

Both Castillo and Tkachik admitted to using drugs while they watched the toddler, according to court records.

Tkachik told police he and Castillo did several lines of heroin the night before Jada died, records state. He said he and Castillo were on their way to buy more heroin in Porter County, with Jada in the back seat, when he first realized the little girl wasn't breathing.

Castillo, who has not confessed to involvement in Jada's death, told police she and Tkachik were smoking marijuana while Jada played on the bedroom floor the day she was reported missing from a Gary gas station, records state.

Houseworth said Child Services was working with the Hobart Police Department in its investigation into Swiontek's other children.

Hobart Deputy Police Chief Jeff White said he expressed to Child Services his opinion on the timing of their investigation while the family is dealing with the loss of Jada. He acknowledged, though, that the safety of the other children is paramount.

White said he has not visited Swiontek's home and could not comment on whether the surviving children lived in a safe household.

"Unfortunately it became my responsibility to inform Jada's parents of what we found," he said. "I can tell you the emotions I witnessed from both are legitimate and very real. If that's any indication of how other children in the home are being cared for, I would say, yes, (they are safe)."

White said he will meet with Child Services on Monday and intends to cooperate with its investigation.