Dude, it's tough, ya know. You're trying to run, uh, the family business, and then your 3-year-old son wanders off. Sucks man. So you call the fuzz. And then they find your stash. Real downer day for dad JONATHAN LEHR.
INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT.
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2010/08/02/1236579/police-missing-maine-boy-is-found.html
Police: Missing Maine boy is found, pot plants too
By The Associated Press
Authorities in Maine say they found a 3-year-old boy who wandered away from his home - and a stash of marijuana plants being cultivated by his father.
Officials say the boy was reported missing about 2:30 p.m. Sunday by his father. The 3-year-old was found unhurt about two hours later when a pilot with the Maine Warden Service spotted him. He was in some tall grass not far from his home in Vienna, Maine.
The Kennebec County Sheriff's office says searchers also discovered 147 marijuana plants inside the home.
The boy's father, 41-year-old Jonathan Lehr, is now facing charges of marijuana cultivation and endangering the welfare of a child.
Lehr did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press at his home.
Read more: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2010/08/02/1236579/police-missing-maine-boy-is-found.html#ixzz0vUGMftaM
Monday, August 2, 2010
Single dad arrested for striking 3-year-old son, then passing out while high on drugs (Reno, Nevada)
"Sole parent" and dad RODNEY RYTTING has been arrested after striking his 3-year-old son, leaving him with a blackened eye and other bruises, and then passing out from drugs. The child was obviously left unattended, and was found wandering around an apartment complex.
We're told that Rytting is the "sole parent." Wonder how that happened? Is mom dead? Or is there something else at play here?
http://www.rgj.com/article/20100802/NEWS01/100802031/-1/CARSON/Reno-father-arrested-on-suspicion-of-striking-toddler-for-spilling-drink-on-him
Reno father arrested on suspicion of striking toddler for spilling drink on him
Jaclyn O'Malley • Reno Gazette-Journal • August 2, 2010
A 45-year-old Reno man was arrested after police said he allegedly struck his toddler in the face — blackening his eye — and then allowed the child to wander outside his apartment complex for 45 minutes while he was passed out.
Rodney Rytting was booked Monday morning into the Washoe County Jail on suspicion of child abuse and child neglect.
Officers responded to his apartment complex in the 1800 block of Selmi Drive to investigate why the 3-year-old boy was left alone. They said he had a black eye and bruises.
Police found his father, Rytting, who said he had struck the boy in the face when he was high on drugs, because his son spilled a drink on him, according to a police report. The boy left his apartment after he passed out.
While Rytting was taken to jail, social workers placed his son in emergency foster care. Rytting is the child’s sole parent.
We're told that Rytting is the "sole parent." Wonder how that happened? Is mom dead? Or is there something else at play here?
http://www.rgj.com/article/20100802/NEWS01/100802031/-1/CARSON/Reno-father-arrested-on-suspicion-of-striking-toddler-for-spilling-drink-on-him
Reno father arrested on suspicion of striking toddler for spilling drink on him
Jaclyn O'Malley • Reno Gazette-Journal • August 2, 2010
A 45-year-old Reno man was arrested after police said he allegedly struck his toddler in the face — blackening his eye — and then allowed the child to wander outside his apartment complex for 45 minutes while he was passed out.
Rodney Rytting was booked Monday morning into the Washoe County Jail on suspicion of child abuse and child neglect.
Officers responded to his apartment complex in the 1800 block of Selmi Drive to investigate why the 3-year-old boy was left alone. They said he had a black eye and bruises.
Police found his father, Rytting, who said he had struck the boy in the face when he was high on drugs, because his son spilled a drink on him, according to a police report. The boy left his apartment after he passed out.
While Rytting was taken to jail, social workers placed his son in emergency foster care. Rytting is the child’s sole parent.
Boy chained by dad now in mother's custody (Sacramento, California)
Dad JOHN VANG and the charming step have been arrested on charges of false imprisonment and cruelty to a child for locking Dad's 13-year-old son in chains for 48 hours. The boy is now in the custody of his biological mother. Not clarified here is just what the parents' custodial arrangement was before this incident. At any rate, this is a father who should NOT have been allowed contact. I wonder if this Daddy had a prior record of child abuse or domestic violence that was simply ignored by the courts. Wouldn't surprise me.
Hat tip to L.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/02/2929595/chained-xy-x-yx-yx-yx-yx-yx-y.html
Boy chained by father now in mother's custody, police say
By Matt Kawahara
mkawahara@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Aug. 2, 2010 - 12:00 am Page 1A
Last Modified: Monday, Aug. 2, 2010 - 8:31 am
A 13-year-old Sacramento boy who police say was locked in chains by his father for 48 hours was put in the custody of his biological mother this weekend, authorities said Sunday.
Sacramento police said they arrested the boy's father, 41-year-old John Vang, and his stepmother, Thong Vue, 34, on suspicion of false imprisonment and cruelty to a child. Both were booked into the Sacramento County jail and released Saturday on bail.
Police spokesman Officer Konrad von Schoech said the boy was being punished by his father and was locked in chains from Wednesday until Friday evening, when the boy managed to get outside and ask for help.
Von Schoech said police located the victim's biological mother, who picked up her son Friday night; he said Sacramento County's Child Protective Services agency "will get involved at this point."
"They will look into the history of this family, and we will conduct the criminal (investigation)," von Schoech said.
The department received a call about 9:30 p.m. Friday that a boy in the vicinity of Franklin Boulevard and Shining Star Drive appeared to be handcuffed or chained and was asking passers-by for help, von Schoech said.
When officers arrived at the 7300 block of Winnett Way, they found the boy with chains wrapped around both ankles and a padlock securing each ankle, von Schoech said. There was also a long length of chain that was connected to the padlocks, he said.
The boy told police "that he got into some sort of trouble at home" on Wednesday night, von Schoech said Sunday.
As punishment, the boy said his father put the padlocks on his ankles and used the long chain connected to his ankles to chain him to the kitchen table, von Schoech said.
He was allowed to go to the bathroom and sleep in his bed, but he was still in chains, von Schoech said.
On Friday night, when the boy saw that his father and stepmother were getting ready to go out gambling, "He had the quick thinking of hiding a key to the (table) lock on his person," von Schoech said.
Von Schoech added: "After he was chained back to the table and his parents left, he was able to free himself and run outside" to alert passers-by.
The father and stepmother were later located and arrested Saturday, according to police logs. His stepmother was arrested because she watched Vang put his son in chains and did not intervene, von Schoech said.
Von Schoech said the boy appeared to be in good health and was not hospitalized.
Police are investigating the possibility that the boy had been chained on other occasions. Von Schoech said it appears that the child was physically abused, and perhaps had been struck by another person.
The south Sacramento street was quiet Sunday, and few people were outside their well-maintained properties.
Neighbors of the suspects either were reluctant to comment or said they did not know the couple that well.
However, a next-door neighbor, Jerel Todd, said Sunday that he thought he heard screaming and yelling coming from the home Friday. "But as quick as it started, … it ended," he said.
Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/02/2929595/chained-xy-x-yx-yx-yx-yx-yx-y.html#ixzz0vTfTp8hb
Hat tip to L.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/02/2929595/chained-xy-x-yx-yx-yx-yx-yx-y.html
Boy chained by father now in mother's custody, police say
By Matt Kawahara
mkawahara@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Aug. 2, 2010 - 12:00 am Page 1A
Last Modified: Monday, Aug. 2, 2010 - 8:31 am
A 13-year-old Sacramento boy who police say was locked in chains by his father for 48 hours was put in the custody of his biological mother this weekend, authorities said Sunday.
Sacramento police said they arrested the boy's father, 41-year-old John Vang, and his stepmother, Thong Vue, 34, on suspicion of false imprisonment and cruelty to a child. Both were booked into the Sacramento County jail and released Saturday on bail.
Police spokesman Officer Konrad von Schoech said the boy was being punished by his father and was locked in chains from Wednesday until Friday evening, when the boy managed to get outside and ask for help.
Von Schoech said police located the victim's biological mother, who picked up her son Friday night; he said Sacramento County's Child Protective Services agency "will get involved at this point."
"They will look into the history of this family, and we will conduct the criminal (investigation)," von Schoech said.
The department received a call about 9:30 p.m. Friday that a boy in the vicinity of Franklin Boulevard and Shining Star Drive appeared to be handcuffed or chained and was asking passers-by for help, von Schoech said.
When officers arrived at the 7300 block of Winnett Way, they found the boy with chains wrapped around both ankles and a padlock securing each ankle, von Schoech said. There was also a long length of chain that was connected to the padlocks, he said.
The boy told police "that he got into some sort of trouble at home" on Wednesday night, von Schoech said Sunday.
As punishment, the boy said his father put the padlocks on his ankles and used the long chain connected to his ankles to chain him to the kitchen table, von Schoech said.
He was allowed to go to the bathroom and sleep in his bed, but he was still in chains, von Schoech said.
On Friday night, when the boy saw that his father and stepmother were getting ready to go out gambling, "He had the quick thinking of hiding a key to the (table) lock on his person," von Schoech said.
Von Schoech added: "After he was chained back to the table and his parents left, he was able to free himself and run outside" to alert passers-by.
The father and stepmother were later located and arrested Saturday, according to police logs. His stepmother was arrested because she watched Vang put his son in chains and did not intervene, von Schoech said.
Von Schoech said the boy appeared to be in good health and was not hospitalized.
Police are investigating the possibility that the boy had been chained on other occasions. Von Schoech said it appears that the child was physically abused, and perhaps had been struck by another person.
The south Sacramento street was quiet Sunday, and few people were outside their well-maintained properties.
Neighbors of the suspects either were reluctant to comment or said they did not know the couple that well.
However, a next-door neighbor, Jerel Todd, said Sunday that he thought he heard screaming and yelling coming from the home Friday. "But as quick as it started, … it ended," he said.
Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/02/2929595/chained-xy-x-yx-yx-yx-yx-yx-y.html#ixzz0vTfTp8hb
Murder-suicides are mostly committed by men (84%), and 50% involve divorce, child custody (Arizona)
For all the confusion and dust (deliberately) kicked up around domestic violence, the real facts are clear: In 2009, 84% of Arizona's domestic violence murder-suicides were committed by men (16 out of 19). Of these murders, 50% of involved separation, divorce, and child custody issues. Who says that violence and child custody issues (i.e. coercive control of the children, former female partner) aren't intrinsically linked in the minds of these killers?
http://www.wmicentral.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20442894&BRD=2264&PAG=461&dept_id=505965&rfi=6
AzCADV releases '09 figures for domestic violence deaths
07/30/2010
In 2009, 111 Arizonans died in domestic violence related incidents, the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence (AzCADV) said in a report.
The deceased included adult and teen victims of intimate partner violence, children killed by their parents or caretakers, people killed by their relatives and perpetrators who committed suicide or were killed by law enforcement responding to a domestic violence call. It was the first year since 2004 that the number of cases logged by the AzCADV actually decreased. However, Arizona saw a small but proportionally important increase in the number of domestic violence related homicide/suicides from previous years. There were 19 perpetrators with 24 victims, leaving 43 dead.
These tragedies comprised 38.7 percent of the total domestic violence-related fatalities in 2009, compared to 28.6 percent in 2008. In these cases, the victim and the perpetrator were overwhelmingly intimate partners, though several cases where a parent killed a child or children before committing suicide took place. Sixteen of the perpetrators were male, two were female and law enforcement did not release the sex of the perpetrator in the remaining case. Situations involving estrangement, such as divorce, separation or custody disputes, were mentioned in 50 percent of the homicide/suicides.
One such domestic violence murder/suicide reportedly took place east of Snowflake. On May 8, 2009, police found the bodies of Ronald Hancock and his 4-year-old daughter a few hundred feet away from his residence on Garden Home Trail, dead from apparent gunshot wounds. The incident took place after Hancock reportedly pulled a knife and tried to kill his ex-wife.
On May 27 of this year, in Taylor, 42-year-old Susan Curtis and her 7-year-old foster granddaughter were found dead in their home. Snowflake-Taylor Police said both died of gunshot wounds in a murder-suicide. In Show Low, there were two attempted murders involving domestic violence in over a month. One reportedly involved a woman trying to hit her boyfriend with a truck on Feb. 9 and another involved a man trying to kill her girlfriend with a rock on March 12 before he was tackled by the girlfriend's 16-year-old son.
The victims included 56 males, 54 females and one person of unknown sex. Among the deceased females, 34 (63 percent) were killed by a current or former intimate partner. Intimate partner homicide was responsible for six (11 percent) of the male fatalities. Among the deceased males, 24 (45 percent) of them took their own lives in the context of a domestic violence murder, attempted murder or assault.
In the logged deaths, firearms were the cause in more cases than all other methods combined. This is consistent every year, both nationally and in Arizona.
"While it is nice to finally see a decrease in the number of domestic violence-related deaths in Arizona, the trends are quite concerning," stated Allie Bones, executive director of AzCADV. "The report highlights the continued need for services in the community that are responsive to victims who are leaving abusive situations."
The full report can be accessed at http://www.azcadv.org/.
http://www.wmicentral.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20442894&BRD=2264&PAG=461&dept_id=505965&rfi=6
AzCADV releases '09 figures for domestic violence deaths
07/30/2010
In 2009, 111 Arizonans died in domestic violence related incidents, the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence (AzCADV) said in a report.
The deceased included adult and teen victims of intimate partner violence, children killed by their parents or caretakers, people killed by their relatives and perpetrators who committed suicide or were killed by law enforcement responding to a domestic violence call. It was the first year since 2004 that the number of cases logged by the AzCADV actually decreased. However, Arizona saw a small but proportionally important increase in the number of domestic violence related homicide/suicides from previous years. There were 19 perpetrators with 24 victims, leaving 43 dead.
These tragedies comprised 38.7 percent of the total domestic violence-related fatalities in 2009, compared to 28.6 percent in 2008. In these cases, the victim and the perpetrator were overwhelmingly intimate partners, though several cases where a parent killed a child or children before committing suicide took place. Sixteen of the perpetrators were male, two were female and law enforcement did not release the sex of the perpetrator in the remaining case. Situations involving estrangement, such as divorce, separation or custody disputes, were mentioned in 50 percent of the homicide/suicides.
One such domestic violence murder/suicide reportedly took place east of Snowflake. On May 8, 2009, police found the bodies of Ronald Hancock and his 4-year-old daughter a few hundred feet away from his residence on Garden Home Trail, dead from apparent gunshot wounds. The incident took place after Hancock reportedly pulled a knife and tried to kill his ex-wife.
On May 27 of this year, in Taylor, 42-year-old Susan Curtis and her 7-year-old foster granddaughter were found dead in their home. Snowflake-Taylor Police said both died of gunshot wounds in a murder-suicide. In Show Low, there were two attempted murders involving domestic violence in over a month. One reportedly involved a woman trying to hit her boyfriend with a truck on Feb. 9 and another involved a man trying to kill her girlfriend with a rock on March 12 before he was tackled by the girlfriend's 16-year-old son.
The victims included 56 males, 54 females and one person of unknown sex. Among the deceased females, 34 (63 percent) were killed by a current or former intimate partner. Intimate partner homicide was responsible for six (11 percent) of the male fatalities. Among the deceased males, 24 (45 percent) of them took their own lives in the context of a domestic violence murder, attempted murder or assault.
In the logged deaths, firearms were the cause in more cases than all other methods combined. This is consistent every year, both nationally and in Arizona.
"While it is nice to finally see a decrease in the number of domestic violence-related deaths in Arizona, the trends are quite concerning," stated Allie Bones, executive director of AzCADV. "The report highlights the continued need for services in the community that are responsive to victims who are leaving abusive situations."
The full report can be accessed at http://www.azcadv.org/.
Man charged with killing 6-month-old baby "new dad" (Auckland, New Zealand)
You often see fathers rights people doing this belabored hair splitting regarding men and child abuse. Boyfriends abuse, we are assured, but not "real" dads. It's a meaningless distinction in reality, since these guys often wear more than one hat. CEZAR TAYLOR has been arrested for assaulting and killing his girlfriend's 6-month-old child. Meanwhile, this @$$wipe is the biological father of another infant who was born just days before to a FORMER girlfriend. Now seriously. Would you really trust an accused baby killer with another baby, just because they shared some DNA? If so, you are an idiot.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/child-abuse/news/article.cfm?c_id=146&objectid=10662757
Baby assault accused is new dad
By Rebecca Lewis 5:30 AM Sunday Aug 1, 2010
The man charged with assaulting baby Cezar Taylor became a father just days before the six-month-old died in hospital.
James Allan Hemana's former girlfriend, Amanda Drake, 28, gave birth to a baby girl, Finesse Sylva-Drake, last Saturday morning.
Cezar died at Auckland's Starship Hospital at 6.15pm on Wednesday from injuries that were consistent with shaking and a blow to the head.
Hemana, also known as James Sylva, was remanded in custody after appearing in the Manukau District Court on Friday.
He is accused of assaulting Cezar last Friday at the Mangere East home he lives at with the baby's mother. He was not the father of Cezar.
Police believe the injuries could have been inflicted over a period of time.
Drake told the Herald on Sunday she was shocked and surprised.
"It's a bit of a shock to find out that this has happened to someone else's baby. I feel really sorry for the mother."
Drake and Hemana had been "on-again, off-again" for around four years in Whangarei, before they made the final decision to split about seven months ago.
Drake said Hemana returned to Whangarei from Auckland. He found out she was having his child about three months into her pregnancy.
"When he found out I was having a girl he came back and knocked on my door. He had tears in his eyes, he was totally overjoyed."
However, Hemana went back to Auckland and Drake had not heard from him since.
After Cezar was admitted to hospital, police tracked Hemana down to a family member's house in Te Awamutu on Wednesday.
Police are speaking with three women who were found at the address.
Further charges against Hemana may be laid once the initial investigation is complete.
Detective Senior Sergeant Richard Wilkie said police were still talking to many of Hemana's friends and family members including "a number" of partners he was believed to have had.
He could not say whether Hemana had any other children.
Cezar's body was released to the family on Friday. They are believed to have taken him to Tauranga where his father lives.
It was revealed this week that Cezar's mother had been spoken to by Child, Youth and Family shortly before the baby's death and the mother had been assigned a new social worker in Auckland.
However, there had been no follow-up before the baby was admitted to Starship.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/child-abuse/news/article.cfm?c_id=146&objectid=10662757
Baby assault accused is new dad
By Rebecca Lewis 5:30 AM Sunday Aug 1, 2010
The man charged with assaulting baby Cezar Taylor became a father just days before the six-month-old died in hospital.
James Allan Hemana's former girlfriend, Amanda Drake, 28, gave birth to a baby girl, Finesse Sylva-Drake, last Saturday morning.
Cezar died at Auckland's Starship Hospital at 6.15pm on Wednesday from injuries that were consistent with shaking and a blow to the head.
Hemana, also known as James Sylva, was remanded in custody after appearing in the Manukau District Court on Friday.
He is accused of assaulting Cezar last Friday at the Mangere East home he lives at with the baby's mother. He was not the father of Cezar.
Police believe the injuries could have been inflicted over a period of time.
Drake told the Herald on Sunday she was shocked and surprised.
"It's a bit of a shock to find out that this has happened to someone else's baby. I feel really sorry for the mother."
Drake and Hemana had been "on-again, off-again" for around four years in Whangarei, before they made the final decision to split about seven months ago.
Drake said Hemana returned to Whangarei from Auckland. He found out she was having his child about three months into her pregnancy.
"When he found out I was having a girl he came back and knocked on my door. He had tears in his eyes, he was totally overjoyed."
However, Hemana went back to Auckland and Drake had not heard from him since.
After Cezar was admitted to hospital, police tracked Hemana down to a family member's house in Te Awamutu on Wednesday.
Police are speaking with three women who were found at the address.
Further charges against Hemana may be laid once the initial investigation is complete.
Detective Senior Sergeant Richard Wilkie said police were still talking to many of Hemana's friends and family members including "a number" of partners he was believed to have had.
He could not say whether Hemana had any other children.
Cezar's body was released to the family on Friday. They are believed to have taken him to Tauranga where his father lives.
It was revealed this week that Cezar's mother had been spoken to by Child, Youth and Family shortly before the baby's death and the mother had been assigned a new social worker in Auckland.
However, there had been no follow-up before the baby was admitted to Starship.
Dad arrested on 2nd-degree murder charges for death of 6-month-old son (Eden Prairie, Minnesota)
Few details here. UNNAMED DAD has been arrested on 2nd-degree murder charges in the death of his 6-month-old son.
http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/state-and-regional/article_2dc975bc-9dad-11df-a18b-001cc4c002e0.html
Eden Prairie man arrested in death of infant son The Associated Press Posted: Sunday, August 1, 2010 3:45 pm
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - An Eden Prairie man is under arrest on suspicion he killed his 6-month-old son.
The Star Tribune reports police were called to the man's home about 5:30 p.m. Saturday and found the child unresponsive. An Eden Prairie police spokeswoman says efforts to revive the child were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center.
The 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder. Police aren't saying he the child was killed but say no weapon was used. The child's mother was home when police arrived but she is not in custody.
http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/state-and-regional/article_2dc975bc-9dad-11df-a18b-001cc4c002e0.html
Eden Prairie man arrested in death of infant son The Associated Press Posted: Sunday, August 1, 2010 3:45 pm
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - An Eden Prairie man is under arrest on suspicion he killed his 6-month-old son.
The Star Tribune reports police were called to the man's home about 5:30 p.m. Saturday and found the child unresponsive. An Eden Prairie police spokeswoman says efforts to revive the child were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center.
The 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder. Police aren't saying he the child was killed but say no weapon was used. The child's mother was home when police arrived but she is not in custody.
Mother of girl murdered by custodial father sues state (Dyersville, Tennessee)
We initially posted on this case last year. Here are some previous posts:
http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/02/ex-workers-kids-safety-not-focus-of-dcs.html
http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2009/08/dad-who-shot-daughter-foster-father-was.html
http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2009/08/dad-accused-of-abuse-shoots-daughter-to.html
Now we find out that the non-custodial mother is suing the the state of Tennessee. A lot of unanswered questions here:
1) Why wasn't Daddy CHRIS MILBURN arrested for sexual abuse if the evidence was compelling enough to remove her from his home and place her in a foster family?
2) Who made the decision to place her with a foster family just three doors away, and not tell them about the abuse?
3) Why wasn't this girl returned to her mother after the abuse allegations arose, at least until the investigation could be completed?
4) And most importantly, why was a sexually abusive and ultimately homicidal father given custody of a teenage girl to begin with? Who made that decision?
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1653576.html
Mother of girl killed in murder/suicide sues state
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Dyersburg State Gazette
The mother of a 15-year-old girl who was killed in a murder/suicide last year is seeking $300,000 from the state of Tennessee.
Jessica L. Readen of Oregon claims that the Tennessee Department of Children's Services failed to protect her daughter in Dyersburg. DCS had placed the girl with a foster family after she complained that her father, Chris Milburn, was touching her inappropriately.
A police investigation revealed that Chris Milburn shot his daughter; her foster parents, Todd and Susan Randolph; and himself Aug. 2, 2009, on Blake Cove. Only Susan Randolph survived.
On Wednesday, a liability claim against the state was filed on Readen's behalf in the Tennessee Division of Claims Administration in Nashville. It will be forwarded to the Attorney General's office for investigation and litigation in the Tennessee Claims Commission.
According to the claim, the teen told a DCS caseworker late July 30, 2009, or early July 31, 2009, that her father had abused her. DCS placed her in the Randolph home, just a few houses away from her father's house on Blake Cove.
DCS administrative policies specify that caseworkers are obligated to share all known medical and behavioral history about the child with the foster parents. Readen's claim indicates the caseworker failed to tell the Randolphs about the alleged abuse.
"As a direct consequence of the failure of the Department's compliance with its own rules and regulations to provide the minor child's caretakers with any and all relevant information, Todd Randolph and Susan Randolph were unable to fully understand, appreciate and subsequently protect the (the girl) from the dangers associated with her placement in their home."
The claim asserts that DCS allows a child to be placed with non-relatives only if those persons can ensure the child's safety and that the foster parents can resist the parent's attempts to see the child. DCS instructed the Randolphs to supervise Chris Milburn's visits with his daughter, but provided no training or advice on what to do if problems arose, the claim said.
Readen claimed that putting her daughter in the Randolphs' home violated department policies.
"This is due to the fact the Randolphs lived too close to Chris Milburn (approximately three houses separated the Randolph and Milburn residences) and were connected to Chris Milburn by an existing relationship of friendship such that, given all of the circumstances which existed in late July 2009, placement of the minor child with the Randolphs was inappropriate and was obviously not safe," the claim said.
DCS is required to prepare an Immediate Protection Agreement to ensure a child's safety while in state custody. If an IPA was prepared in this case, the claim said, it did not provide the Randolphs with enough information to protect the girl.
The Randolphs called a DCS caseworker's cell phone repeatedly on Aug. 1-2, 2009. They were concerned about Chris Milburn's behavior and wanted to know how to restrict or terminate his visits. The caseworker never answered the phone and there was no way for the Randolphs to leave a message, the claim said.
Readen claimed that even though the teen had provided DCS with graphic details about her abuse, no one filed a petition in Dyer County Juvenile Court for the girl's emergency removal from her father's custody.
"The Tennessee Department of Children's Services (by and through the negligent conduct of its employees) breached their duty to the (the girl) by failing to properly provide for her safety," the claim said.
Readen valued her daughter's pain, suffering and mental anguish at more than $500,000; the value of her daughter's life in excess of $750,000; and her funeral expenses at $6,000. She won't receive that much. State law limits claims to no more than $300,000.
This is the second claim filed by the teen's family in the Division of Claims Administration. Director Anne Adams said the family was award $6,000 for funeral expenses through the Criminal Injury Compensation Fund. Convicted state and federal felons finance the fund through fines. Innocent victims of violence may file for medical expenses, loss of support, loss of wages, disability, funeral expenses and crime scene cleanup if the crime happened in the home.
St. Mary's Episcopal Church, which the Randolphs attended, also set up a fund last year to help pay for the teen's cremation and transportation of the cremated remains to Oregon.
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