Alameda Co. pays $12 million to family of 8-year-old girl found dead after multiple abuse reports

ALAMEDA COUNTY, Calif. -- Alameda County has agreed to a $12 million settlement with the grandmother of Sophia Mason, the 8-year-old Hayward girl who was found dead in a Merced home in 2022, according to county officials.

The settlement comes as Alameda County released an investigation detailing failures in its response to multiple reports of abuse involving Sophia's mother and her mother's boyfriend while they lived in Hayward.

The report found that Alameda County's Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) received eight referrals involving Sophia between 2014 and 2021. Investigators concluded that at least one February 2021 referral alleging physical abuse was not properly investigated.

Carly Sanchez, a partner with Booth Law and attorney for Sophia's grandmother, said the settlement cannot undo the loss suffered by the family.

"How can you feel about an exchange of money for a human life? Obviously money is helpful, but it does not bring Sophia back," Sanchez said.

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The county's investigation into Sophia's death identified shortcomings within the child welfare system.

In a statement, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors said, "We understand that Sophia Mason deserved support from the public resources allocated and designed to protect her. We reaffirm our countywide commitment to protecting our children and advancing systemwide improvement."

Sanchez said Sophia's family hope the case will lead to meaningful changes within the county's child welfare system.

"The county is struggling. They have high turnover, lots of vacancies. And, you know, we're not unsympathetic to those struggles. But the result is cases like this, where children fall through the cracks to their extreme detriment. And in this case, we have no ability to make it right for Sophia. You know, she's gone," Sanchez said.

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Alameda County's Department of Children and Family Services is now being monitored by the state. A state auditor's report found the county failed to follow timelines for initiating child abuse investigations in about half of its cases.

In a statement, the Alameda County Social Services Agency said it continues to work closely with the State of California to implement 15 audit recommendations identified in the state auditor's report: "We are treating these reports as mandates for immediate action, not simply documents under review. Several changes are already underway, including expanded staff training, strengthened documentation standards, and improved use of tools such as medical exam warrants. We are also working urgently to reduce staff vacancies and address case backlogs, in direct partnership with CDSS."

State Sen. Aisha Wahab, whose district includes Hayward, said Sophia's case is personal to her.

"I grew up in the foster care system, specifically a ward of Alameda County. I have lived through their failures. I see it every day," Wahab said.

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Wahab said more action is needed from the county.

"This death of Sophia Mason was completely preventable. There is clear documentation that shows that this death was absolutely preventable. Sophia Mason could have been alive today... They need to correct their course and actually do their job," she said.

As part of the settlement, a public memorial bench will be installed in San Felipe Community Park in Hayward. Sanchez said Sophia's family wants to ensure she is remembered as more than a case number.

In the criminal case, Sophia's mother, Samantha Johnson, entered a plea to voluntary manslaughter, two counts of child abuse and two enhancements for causing great bodily injury in connection with Sophia's death. Johnson was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in prison.

Murder and child abuse charges against Dhante Jackson, Johnson's boyfriend, were dropped in October. Jackson served time in prison on an accessory-to-murder charge and was released in October 2025 after those charges were dropped.