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Foster home on Jacksonville's Westside closes amidst DCF investigation

The i.K.A.R.E. Youth and Family Services facility has been under investigation since its director was accused of covering up a suspected act of child molestation.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A foster home on Jacksonville's Westside has closed its doors amidst a Department of Children and Families investigation that started after the home's director was accused of covering up child abuse.

Director of i.K.A.R.E. Youth and Family Services Torrance D. Gary, 48, was arrested Dec. 19 after the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said he told employees at the facility to not report an act of suspected lewd molestation reportedly caught on camera.

RELATED: Westside foster home director accused of covering up child abuse, children removed from home

The incident allegedly happened Nov. 5, and police said Gary warned employees not to report it out of fear it would hurt their business.

An employee contacted authorities anyway, but police said the surveillance video had been tampered with.

Gary was charged with child neglect and willfully failing to report known or suspected child abuse, according to JSO.

He bonded out of jail the next day and DCF removed the children from the facility.

DCF has not disclosed the exact reason behind the home's closure.

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