Slashed mom requests custody of son (Lehigh, Florida)

We've posted ont his case many times. MANUEL ROSALES was the sexually abusive, custodial father of this woman, who "allegedly" had her throat slashed by Daddy Dearest. Testing has also proved that he is the father of her older surviving son. The youngest son was murdered, "allegedly" at the hands of Rosales, who is charged with 1st-degree murder and 1st-degree attempted murder.

And yet Daddy's attorney is fighting to preserve his parental father's rights. Of course.

http://www.news-press.com/article/20100918/NEWS0103/100917075/1005/ACC/Slashed-Lehigh-mom-requests-custody-of-son

Slashed Lehigh mom requests custody of son
By DENES HUSTY III • dhusty@news-press.com • September 18, 2010

1:10 A.M. — Karminda Rosales Salazar had her throat gashed with a knife before her baby boy was killed in front of her — allegedly by her father.

Now, she is trying to regain custody of her other son, 18-month-old Brian — who was fathered by the alleged killer of 3-month-old Josue.

Brian was placed in foster care by the state Department of Children and Families after Karminda, 20, was hospitalized following the May 20 attack in Lehigh Acres, said Terry Field, an agency spokesman.

Field said the child was placed in foster care because there was no relative to take care of him.

Karminda’s father, Manuel Rosales, 43, is accused of slashing her throat three times and then slashing the throat of Josue during an argument outside their Lehigh Acres home. The baby died hours later.

Rosales faces the death penalty. He is charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. He is being held without bail in the Lee County Jail.

Paternity tests found Rosales is Brian’s father, according to criminal case records.

After being released from the hospital, Karminda filed a petition to regain custody of Brian. The issue is now before a Lee County judge who has jurisdiction in the case.

Regarding Brian’s future, “we would like nothing more than to see the child reunited with his mother,” Field said.

However, Karminda is recuperating and case workers have concerns whether she is physically able to care for her son at this time, Field said.

For the time being, Brian remains in foster care.

“We are filing expedited motions. We’re going to do this” and have the son reunited with his mother as soon as possible, Field said.

Karminda could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, the state is seeking to terminate Manuel Rosales’ parental rights.

Assistant public defender Neil McLoughlin, Rosales’ attorney, said he has filed a motion to block state officials from talking to Rosales about the parental-rights issue.

He said he doesn’t want his client saying anything that might be used against him in the criminal case.

No date for the next custody hearing has been set.