TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge says a Kansas agency must release the results of its internal investigation into the death of a 4-year-old northeast Kansas boy.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth Gale rejected an argument from the Department for Children and Families that its investigative report and other documents should be kept secret.

The ruling Friday comes as part of a federal lawsuit against DCF brought by Naomi Boone, the mother of 4-year-old Mekhi Boone. The child died in 2013 at the hands of his father, Lee Davis, who’s serving nearly 20 years for second-degree murder. Boone contends the child should not have been placed with his father.

The judge’s ruling gives DCF 30 days to comply.

A DCF spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.