Esmeralda came to her family home when she was only seven weeks old and she lived there for over two years before the appellate court decided that she would move home to her biological parents. In January this year, the then three-year-old girl was found dead.

On Thursday, her biological mother was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison for aggravated manslaughter and drug offenses.

But Melinda Jacobs does not think that the verdict gives her foster daughter either redress or justice.

- I think that the legal community has betrayed her several times, first in the court of appeal and then in several instances in the future where they have not listened, she says in Aktuellt.

The legislation must be changed

There is political agreement that laws must be changed so that Esmeralda's fate is not repeated.

According to Melinda Jacobs, it is also a matter of ensuring that the legal representatives have child competence and that the Social Services must take greater follow-up responsibility.

- An important aspect is drug freedom. That you must be able to show that you are drug-free. And if you refuse, it should be equal to being positive, she says.