Kentucky Social Worker Arrested After Sending Two Injured Girls Back To An Allegedly Abusive Home

Alan Zhang, a 24-year-old social worker in Kentucky, has been arrested after prosecutors say he returned two children to their home despite visible signs and reports of abuse. The case centers on events that began on August 28, when the girls arrived at school with multiple injuries and school staff contacted the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS).

Investigation Timeline

According to charging documents, school staff notified CHFS after seeing bite marks, black eyes, neck marks and bruises on the two children. Zhang was dispatched to the school but did not arrive until roughly three and a half hours after the initial report. While at the school, he asked the nurse to photograph the injuries and interviewed the children.

Prosecutors say Zhang heard one child say,

"Mom's boyfriend choked her."

Multiple school employees told Zhang they had not called police because they assumed CHFS would contact law enforcement if necessary. Charges allege Zhang did not call the police; instead he called a supervisor, told staff he "wasn't comfortable with the situation," and instructed them to send the girls home.

Later, concerned school employees called to check on the children and reportedly heard the mother's boyfriend, identified in court filings as Kyle Reynold, yelling in the background. School staff then called 911 and requested a welfare check. By the time deputies arrived, the girls had allegedly been assaulted again and were taken to a hospital. Examiners documented extensive injuries: one child had 23 visible injuries and the other had 32.

Allegations About Zhang's Conduct

Charging documents also allege that Zhang appeared at the scene at some point and told emergency medical personnel he "needed to know what was going on so he could leave" because he "had places to be." Gallatin County Attorney Grant Axon said Zhang "not only completely failed these two children by not investigating the injuries that they had. But then when he sent them home against all obvious signs to do so, they were beaten again."

Charges And Next Steps

Zhang faces one count each of failure to report, official misconduct, complicity to commit assault, and wanton endangerment. All four counts are misdemeanors. He was booked into Boone County Jail and released on a $5,000 bond. Zhang is scheduled to be arraigned on October 20, 2026.

This case remains under investigation. The charges and the account above reflect allegations in charging documents; criminal charges are not proof of guilt and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.