Nearly five thousand people have signed a petition demanding an independent investigation into Kern County’s Child Protective Services.

The petition calls for a probe into the department following the torture and murder of Genesis Mata, 8, allegedly by her father and stepmother.

The petition on Change.org was launched on August 5, 2025, by Josefina Villarreal who said her 2-year-old nephew died from a fentanyl overdose under his father’s care.

A grand jury report in April found Kern County’s CPS lacked funding and staffing and faces excessive case loads.