Jailed dad accused of killing wife dictating child custody arrangements (San Miguel, California)

Let me try to get this straight. Dad JOHN NORRIS has been arrested for shooting his wife to death (he's apparently confessed) and he's now sitting in jail. And from jail, he's dictating where his children are placed?

Apparently, the kids were moved from the first home because of worries that the father might be violent towards them, so they were moved to a second home. But Dad objects with concerns about their "safety" at the second home, so they are moved again against the wishes of the victim's family. Why does Dad even have any say in the matter? Why do people even allow this kind of BS? If he was so worried about the kids' safety, he wouldn't have shot their mother!

http://www.ksby.com/global/story.asp?s=10959468&ClientType=Printable

Man accused of shooting and killing wife asks for children to be moved to safer home
Posted: Aug 19, 2009 07:06 PM CDT
Reported by: Stacy Daniel

A family torn apart after a fatal shooting is now in a heated fight over where to place the victim's children.

On July 9, 24-year-old Tasha Norris was fatally shot. Her husband, John Norris, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Since the shooting, the couple's two young children have been in protective custody. But that changed Wednesday. They have been moved to another location at the father's request. And that's not what the victim's family wants.

A mother of two is dead, killed by her husband.

While authorities work to find out if the shooting was an accident or homicide, the lives of two small children hang in the balance. At first they were placed in the care of their babysitter, Tasha's close friend, Jenny Dersham, but that didn't last long.

"They removed the children from me two days afterwards because they thought the father was going to be violent towards us and the children and he knew where they were, so they took the children away from us and put them in protective care," Dersham said.

Two weeks later, the kids were back at their new, still temporary home. But suddenly, Child Protective Services announced the kids are moving again - this time, at the father's request and over concerns for their safety.

"We do not move children unless we find it necessary to do so. They've already been traumatized enough. This was a tough decision, but one that was necessary," said Tracy Buckingham with Child Protective Services.

Tasha's aunt contacted KSBY, concerned about the children. Her email says, "My family is very confused about the processes of child services and why they would respect the wishes of Mr. Norris in regards to his children when he is the reason his children are in the place that they are. We need help here, as it seems no one really cares that these kids' mother died from his carelessness."

To be fair, social services they are just looking out for the best interest of the children.

"He (John Norris) has been charged, but he's not been convicted of the crime. He's their dad. They've lost their mother. We need to maintain whatever connection we can for children with their families," said Buckingham.

Norris will be back in court on September 17.