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Foster parents in police custody after Target 11 investigation into child sex abuse allegations

PITTSBURGH — A Target 11 investigation into shocking allegations of child sex abuse decades ago has resulted in criminal charges against two former foster parents.

Allegheny County police charged Carl Gilbert and his ex-wife Matilda Gilbert Omiecinski with the sexual assault of a young girl living in their foster home in McKeesport during the early 90s.

These charges come after Carlina Freeman told Target 11 Investigator Rick Earle she went to live with the Gilberts when she was nine years old. She says Gilbert raped and impregnated her at 14, but he was never charged with any crimes.

>>RELATED STORY: DNA proves foster father raped, impregnated young girl, but court system kept her living there

Freeman also had a paternity test showing Gilbert was the father and obtained a court order that showed he was the biological father.

She says she also told her caseworker, but no charges were ever filed against Gilbert.

Earle reported Friday night that it’s unclear how this case fell through the cracks, but sources say it was a failure of the court system and CYF.

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Earle launched an investigation and spoke with multiple police agencies, Allegheny County CYF and the court system. CYF declined to comment but no one else recalled the case.

Based on Earle’s investigation, Allegheny County Police launched an official criminal investigation, and they just filed rape and sex assault charges against Gilbert.

Gilbert’s ex-wife Matilda, who lives near Cleveland, is also facing sex abuse charges. She will be brought back to Allegheny Co. to face child sex abuse charges stemming from allegations decades ago.

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Freeman has hired a law firm who are considering filing a civil suit against Allegheny County Children, Youth and Familes.

The attorneys claim a Children, Youth and Families department caseworker knew that Gilbert was the father, and they say there were also court documents proving it, but no one did anything further.