Records: Missing girl's sister had previously been removed from home

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The mother of an 11-year-old girl found dead in a freezer headed back to court Tuesday, this time to deal with her four other children.

Keishanna Thomas didn't want to appear in court, but the judge wouldn't take "no" for an answer.

"I'm ordering her to come out," he said, "this isn't something to waive she has to hear directly from me."

The hearing, over the status of her four other children, was continued until next month.  But what we learned inside the court room -- and from new documents -- is that Keishanna has another special needs child who, like Janiya, was the subject of abuse, according to DCF.

DCF records show that Janiya's oldest sibling was removed from the home in 2004.  The agency received allegations that Keishana "picked her up off the toilet, choked her, threw her to the floor an slapped her."

Investigators noted the girl had 22 scars and healing marks, which she blamed on her mother, Keishanna.

DCF records show 10 investigations of abuse since that initial visit.  In November of 2013, a report claims Keishanna dropped bleach on Janiya and discolored her skin. CPS could not prove the claims and Janiya was left in the home.

During another investigation in May 2014, Janiya was listed at the home.

Then in September of this year, when her 12-year-old brother filed a complaint against his mother, investigators noticed she was missing.

Reggie Adams -- the father to two of Keishanna's children, including the 12-year-old -- says he just wants kids back.

"The only thing I am interested in right now is the well-being of my children," he said.  "I know it's hard for everybody else in the community and it has to be exceptionally hard on the children."

When asked why no one noticed Janiya was missing, he said he had no comment and continued on:

"Ain't nobody can judge this this whole situation, not even the courts, not even the judge. God has the final say so."

The most recent DCF report was written just earlier this month.  It noted that Thomas was consistently uncooperative with investigators and her children were increasingly fearful of her.  It said she was overwhelmed with being a single mother to five children.

Investigators are still working to figure out how Janiya died. Once those results are released, we could see Keishanna back in court.

The DCF records had also indicated Keishanna was pregnant for a sixth time.  But Bradenton police say she has since been tested by Manatee deputies in jail and they now say she is not pregnant.