Texas investigates adoption agency

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FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A Fort Worth, Texas, adoption agency is under investigation after the death of a 3-year-old boy it placed for adoption, officials said.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is investigating to learn if the 125-year-old Gladney Adoption Center properly screened Laura and Alan Shatto, adoptive parents of Max Shatto, a Russian orphan brought to the United States last year, the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday.

"We're evaluating whether these minimum standards were met," said Patrick Crimmins, spokesman for the state agency.

The child died in Odessa Jan. 21 and although Russian authorities have said he died of abuse, no cause of death has been announced by the Ector County, Texas, medical examiner. His death, weeks after Russia barred all American adoptions, has been a top news story in Russia, with calls for Max's brother Kristopher, who remains in the care of the Shattos, to be returned to Russia, the newspaper said.