As fall rolls in, this September also marks the four year anniversary of Veronica Brown's forced removal from her father and family. Forced to live with strangers she had no memory of, slapped with a fake name and a fake birth certificate that states those strangers gave birth to her. Forced to remain with them and encouraged to call them Mom and Dad even though they were complete strangers to her and possibly even seen as monsters to her then four year old mind.
As the years have passed, her case, her face and her name have been lost into obscurity. As far as the general public is concerned, her case is over and time to move on. For those within the adoption community, her name and face represent everything that is wrong with current infant adoption practices in the United States. It showed the world that the laws were so twisted against fathers that complete strangers could kidnap a 4 yr old child from her family and the courts would back them up. For those in support of the kidnappers, Matthew and Melanie Capobianco, they see no issue with how her case played out. They see no issue with tearing a 4 yr old child from her family to be sent off with strangers. They see nothing wrong with the adoption laws.
Recently, it was finally revealed that the Capobiancos had indeed adopted another child. This was the newborn they had pictured Ronnie with mere months after kidnapping her. Rumors had been rumbling in those early months that they'd adopted another child, but many of their supporters claimed the newborn was actually a relative's child. There'd also been a baby registry with Target under the Capobianco's name. Again, it was dismissed.
Well, the rumors were actually true. The newborn Ronnie was pictured with was actually the other child they adopted. Let that sink in. They were in the process of adopting another child while they were actively trying to steal Veronica. I cannot wrap my brain around any of that. To me, it just proved without any shadow of a doubt that they were monsters. They were about to get their little loyal adoptling and yet they were still hell bent on stealing away a 4 yr old child from all she knew and loved.
How does that not scream MONSTERS?
It makes me wonder how things will play out as both Veronica and the Capobianco's daughter grow up. While I cannot vouch for the validity of what I have heard, rumors still float around that Veronica still calls Dusten "Dad" (kidnappers were pushing her to call him by name). There have also been whispers that she still asks to go home. Will Matt and Melanie's daughter push her into compliance? Will she dismiss Veronica's longing to go back to her family? Or will she question her own adoption when Veronica tells her how she was stolen from her parents and grandparents? Will it be revealed that their daughter's adoption was nothing more than a replacement should they have lost their case to Veronica's Dad? Will the Capobiancos find themselves face to face with their wrath and questions and unable to bullshit their way out of it?
I hope so. I hope Veronica turns on them and turns their daughter against them. It's only a matter of time before she does. It's what they deserve after what they've done. If you say that makes me a shitty person, so be it.
Monday, September 11, 2017
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Send Maddy Home
I've been off the radar for a while. There's been a bit of a lull with the Lexi case and only little blips here and there of a few others I've been following. I admit, I feel bad because this case was one I'd been wanting to write about for several months.
Back in March, Allen County Children's Services moved a 21 month old foster child from her foster home and to the home of a relative that already had custody of an older sibling. The child had been removed from her mother at birth and placed with the foster family as purely a fostering situation. Reunification efforts had been made, but due to the mother's inability to cooperate, ACCS moved to the next step and that was relative placement.
This is where it all gets a little weird.
It had come to the attention of those involved that the mother had been working with the foster family in an effort to allow the foster family to adopt the toddler shortly before the child had been moved. They'd been working on a private adoption in Mercer county. The adoption was granted two weeks after the child had been removed from the foster home. Apparently the foster couple, Brian and Kelly Anderson, had misrepresented themselves in order to obtain the adoption. They claimed that the child had been placed in their home as an adoptive placement and even claimed she was in their custody. So adoption granted and the judge demanded the child's immediate return. Allen County dug in their heels and challenged Mercer County's orders based on lack of jurisdiction.
In June of this year, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Mercer County had overstepped and did not have jurisdiction. I cannot find the OSC document, but here is the article talking about the case:
Court Rules In Favor of Allen County
Brian and Kelly Anderson cried foul on their respective social media accounts (as well as a Bring Maddy Home page). It had even come to public attention that they were in the process of having their foster license revoked due to breaking confidentiality rules and trying to wrangle a shady adoption out from under ACCS's nose.
I assumed this case was done and it was cut and dried. Allen County had legal custody and at that time, had been the only ones with the authority to decide where the child would reside. The mother didn't have custody and had no legal authority to decide where the child went. And yet, she was able to arrange a private adoption with the foster family? Last time I checked on things, you couldn't adopt out a kid you didn't have custody of.
It seemed that the Andersons and mother's war cry were based on the mom "having the right to decide her child's best interest", or something to that effect. Okay, so they think mom should have the right to adopt her kid out while the child is in CPS custody? The Andersons are freakin' foster parents, so they know damned well how the laws work. It's a dependency case. You can't circumvent Children's Services and try to adopt the kid out from behind everyone's back, especially a kid you don't even have legal or physical custody of! It's not rocket science.
Now I know many who are probably thinking "But hey, Dorkzilla, the Andersons had the child until she was 21 months old, that family was all she knew". I get that they'd had the child for a length of time, but as foster parents, this meant that they would never have her permanently. Just like the Pages out of California, they were nothing more than temporary caregivers until permanency could take place. And in the case of this toddler, ACCS had decided that if the child couldn't go back to her mother than the mother's sister would take her, seeing that she already had custody of one of the mother's other children. The mother really had no say over placement preference in this instance. She could certainly make suggestions, but the final say was with Allen County.
Well, it appears that the Andersons had challenged the June ruling and the Ohio Supreme Court issued a new one. A complete 180 from their original June ruling. Now they claim Mercer County did have authority and that since mom had not been TPR'd, she had a right to decide placement for private adoption.
State ex rel. Allen County Children's Services
The aunt was forced immediately to turn the child over to ACCS so they could take her back to the child hoarding Anderson clan.
This ruling turns dependency law on its damned head.
When a child is deemed abused/neglected and made a ward of the state, the county which took the child generally has the jurisdiction. They have the final say in all aspects of that's child's life until the child is then returned to the legal custody of a parent or guardian. The general rule of dependency law is that if reunification with the parent does not work out, family placement is considered the next step. Allowing unrelated foster parents to adopt the child is supposed to be a last resort. The Andersons took the child in as a foster child and were there to help in reunification efforts. Those efforts fell through. So, as planned, the child was sent to live with an aunt who had been approved as placement and already had custody of an older sibling. Nowhere in depedency law can a parent adopt their kid out from foster care without the green light from the county/agency that holds legal custody of the child.
It's sad that so many support the Andersons, even with the lies they told to get the first fraudulent adoption and the smear campaign they ran against the county and judges involved. The mother has all but rubbed this ill gotten victory in her sister's face, clearly showing that she cared nothing for the child her sister already had or the child who was now being forced to live with strangers. Strangers who will slam the door in everyone's face first chance they have. They got their prize. They have no use for any of them now.
The courts need to realize the error in their ruling and send Maddy back home to her aunt and brother. This is where she belongs. Don't allow her drug addicted manipulative mother to run the show and don't let the Andersons bully you into rolling over with this. What does that tell your public? That you cower to drug addicts and entitled adopters who hoard children like various nick knacks? Dependency law has always been clear - family first, especially if said family is already raising siblings. Even the mother's two oldest children have cried foul of this ruling. The whole family is reeling. They want Maddy back home so she can grow up with her siblings and family, not become another accessory to a man and a woman who collect more children than they know what to do with.
Back in March, Allen County Children's Services moved a 21 month old foster child from her foster home and to the home of a relative that already had custody of an older sibling. The child had been removed from her mother at birth and placed with the foster family as purely a fostering situation. Reunification efforts had been made, but due to the mother's inability to cooperate, ACCS moved to the next step and that was relative placement.
This is where it all gets a little weird.
It had come to the attention of those involved that the mother had been working with the foster family in an effort to allow the foster family to adopt the toddler shortly before the child had been moved. They'd been working on a private adoption in Mercer county. The adoption was granted two weeks after the child had been removed from the foster home. Apparently the foster couple, Brian and Kelly Anderson, had misrepresented themselves in order to obtain the adoption. They claimed that the child had been placed in their home as an adoptive placement and even claimed she was in their custody. So adoption granted and the judge demanded the child's immediate return. Allen County dug in their heels and challenged Mercer County's orders based on lack of jurisdiction.
In June of this year, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Mercer County had overstepped and did not have jurisdiction. I cannot find the OSC document, but here is the article talking about the case:
Court Rules In Favor of Allen County
Brian and Kelly Anderson cried foul on their respective social media accounts (as well as a Bring Maddy Home page). It had even come to public attention that they were in the process of having their foster license revoked due to breaking confidentiality rules and trying to wrangle a shady adoption out from under ACCS's nose.
I assumed this case was done and it was cut and dried. Allen County had legal custody and at that time, had been the only ones with the authority to decide where the child would reside. The mother didn't have custody and had no legal authority to decide where the child went. And yet, she was able to arrange a private adoption with the foster family? Last time I checked on things, you couldn't adopt out a kid you didn't have custody of.
It seemed that the Andersons and mother's war cry were based on the mom "having the right to decide her child's best interest", or something to that effect. Okay, so they think mom should have the right to adopt her kid out while the child is in CPS custody? The Andersons are freakin' foster parents, so they know damned well how the laws work. It's a dependency case. You can't circumvent Children's Services and try to adopt the kid out from behind everyone's back, especially a kid you don't even have legal or physical custody of! It's not rocket science.
Now I know many who are probably thinking "But hey, Dorkzilla, the Andersons had the child until she was 21 months old, that family was all she knew". I get that they'd had the child for a length of time, but as foster parents, this meant that they would never have her permanently. Just like the Pages out of California, they were nothing more than temporary caregivers until permanency could take place. And in the case of this toddler, ACCS had decided that if the child couldn't go back to her mother than the mother's sister would take her, seeing that she already had custody of one of the mother's other children. The mother really had no say over placement preference in this instance. She could certainly make suggestions, but the final say was with Allen County.
Well, it appears that the Andersons had challenged the June ruling and the Ohio Supreme Court issued a new one. A complete 180 from their original June ruling. Now they claim Mercer County did have authority and that since mom had not been TPR'd, she had a right to decide placement for private adoption.
State ex rel. Allen County Children's Services
The aunt was forced immediately to turn the child over to ACCS so they could take her back to the child hoarding Anderson clan.
This ruling turns dependency law on its damned head.
When a child is deemed abused/neglected and made a ward of the state, the county which took the child generally has the jurisdiction. They have the final say in all aspects of that's child's life until the child is then returned to the legal custody of a parent or guardian. The general rule of dependency law is that if reunification with the parent does not work out, family placement is considered the next step. Allowing unrelated foster parents to adopt the child is supposed to be a last resort. The Andersons took the child in as a foster child and were there to help in reunification efforts. Those efforts fell through. So, as planned, the child was sent to live with an aunt who had been approved as placement and already had custody of an older sibling. Nowhere in depedency law can a parent adopt their kid out from foster care without the green light from the county/agency that holds legal custody of the child.
It's sad that so many support the Andersons, even with the lies they told to get the first fraudulent adoption and the smear campaign they ran against the county and judges involved. The mother has all but rubbed this ill gotten victory in her sister's face, clearly showing that she cared nothing for the child her sister already had or the child who was now being forced to live with strangers. Strangers who will slam the door in everyone's face first chance they have. They got their prize. They have no use for any of them now.
The courts need to realize the error in their ruling and send Maddy back home to her aunt and brother. This is where she belongs. Don't allow her drug addicted manipulative mother to run the show and don't let the Andersons bully you into rolling over with this. What does that tell your public? That you cower to drug addicts and entitled adopters who hoard children like various nick knacks? Dependency law has always been clear - family first, especially if said family is already raising siblings. Even the mother's two oldest children have cried foul of this ruling. The whole family is reeling. They want Maddy back home so she can grow up with her siblings and family, not become another accessory to a man and a woman who collect more children than they know what to do with.
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Courts Rule In CA Foster Child Case
It's been a while, fellow humans. I'll admit, I did take a bit of a break to work on other projects. I needed a break from the more serious stuff going on in the adoption world and wanted to continue working on a novel I'd been working on since late 2013. It's difficult enough working on one or the other when working full time, so attempting to maintain the blog as well as continue work on the novel in between a 40+ hour work week had become more of a chore than I was willing to take on. Something had to be sacrificed, if only briefly.
I come to you all with good news from CA. For those who are familiar with the case of Foster Family Page and the little foster child, Lexi, you know that the former foster family had been fighting an uphill battle to reclaim little Lexi after managing to legally hold her hostage for 3 yrs in an effort to fight reunification and placement efforts with family. When the day came for Lexi to be removed from their home, they'd arranged a massive media circus complete with screaming and wailing people. The idea was to pull at public sympathy, watching as the foster woman and her children screamed in the driveway. Watching as friends of the foster family and neighbors all screamed and carried on as the child was carried to the waiting car. For some, it triggered outrage at social services for snatching that little girl from the "only home she knew" and for others, the outrage was aimed at the family and their supporters. Outrage at how callous they could be in exposing the little girl to such a spectacle.
On their public Facebook page, they make constant claims of how she didn't want to go, didn't know the extended family she was being taken to, was traumatized by her removal from her "true family". The interesting thing is the fact that the court documents they'd provided painted a very different picture. It contradicted their claims. In my first mention of this case, I provided a link to one of the original court opinions. You can find the opinion here: Appellate Opinion 2014.
Lexi was removed from the dysfunctional foster family in March 2016. Moved to the family she knew and knew she would be going to for a long time. Remember, the Pages were well aware that if reunification fell through with her father, she would go to extended family that already had custody of some of her siblings. The family she should have gone to nearly 3 yrs ago had the foster family not dug their talons in and tried to hold her hostage. They'd purposely held onto her as long as they could in the hopes the courts would rule a forced best interest, a common ploy used by wanna be adoptive homes. In this case, because Lexi was a ward of the state, there were state and federal laws in play that have placement preferences in place. Reunification with parents is a first and if that falls through, extended family is the next option. This is common in just about any foster care situation. If children cannot be returned to parents, next of kin is given preference over strangers, even if those strangers were fostering the child for a period of time.
The Pages attempted to appeal the decision and were shot down a few times. They were even rejected by the CA Supreme Court. There was a recent appellate court hearing and the opinion just became available. It's a lengthy read, but worth it. It paints a very very different picture of the foster family.
Appellate Opinion 2016
There were some troubling observations highlighted in section B of the published opinion. Of course, the admin who runs the Save Lexi Facebook page (supporters of the foster parents) and many of their die hard supporters completely ignore the information released regarding how the Pages handled being foster parents.
*refused to allow a second day of visitation with extended family because the social worker was late returning her to their home.
*interfered with her one on one therapy and insisted it happen at their home to allow them to be involved and to monitor her.
*balked at week long visits with extended family, claiming that their own children were not allowed overnight visits at that age.
*frequently claimed child was anxious and difficult after visitations with extended fam and claimed child did not want contact to continue, contrary to what the therapist, social workers and GAL observed
*were hesitant at assisting child in exploring her native roots, refusing to participate in a smudging ceremony, discouraging child from participating and objects made by child found their way to the trash
*their idea of exploring child's native roots was painting a wall Navajo blue.
So there it is. The Page family deemed themselves superior and made every effort they could to interfere with the child being transitioned to her extended family in Utah. They interfered with visitations, attempted to make claims that the extended family caused her anxiety, interfered with her therapy sessions and refused to assist the child in exploring her culture. This is just what is documented in the opinion. And even the professionals involved made it clear that the Pages had failed to perform their duty as foster parents by these actions. Clear efforts were made by Rusty and Summer to isolate Lexi and push themselves onto her as her "only family".
I've heard through sources that the media coverage and opinion documents only chronicle a fraction of the Pages dysfunction in how they handled Lexi. Granted, this is third hand info, so there is no way to validate its accuracy. I've heard through trusted sources that she was actually happy to be taken from their home and tore that tight braid from her hair the moment she stepped foot in Utah. It has been hinted that the Page home had been an unhealthy environment for her. In the comment thread of a recent WND article, there is a commenter stating that cameras were all over the home and the child was videotaped frequently to monitor her. This allegation somewhat mirrors the issue the therapist had with gaining one on one access to Lexi. The Pages balked at individual therapy outside of their home because they wanted to be involved to monitor her and interfered frequently during group sessions. Other allegation by this same commenter are that Lexi was not allowed to play with certain neighborhood children because those children were "going to hell" and that the Pages tried desperately to minimize Lexi's relationship with her siblings in Utah.
The appellate opinion alone highlights the Pages failure to be adequate foster parents once they realized the child would be removed from their home and this information, along with what I've heard through other sources and the commenter in the WND article, paint a very dark and disturbing picture of this family who touted themselves as saviors to this little foster child. I wonder what that child is telling those around her now.
Of course, the Pages and their supporters are wailing and praying and pushing to take this case to the United States Supreme Court. Some are even pointing out that the big win in 2013 (Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl) should be the shoe in they need to get Lexi back into their clutches, even though Adoptive Couple was addressed in early hearings and the courts determined it did not apply to this case. Some have suggested private investigators be hired to stalk and monitor how the child is faring in Utah. A few have outright suggested they just go to Utah and snatch her back.
What took me and others by surprise was the fact that some of their supporters actually took the time to read the documents and started pointing out the misleading misinformation the Pages presented. With the truth published in the most recent appellate opinion, those who took the time to read felt the Pages had lied to them and the child should be left alone. It was good to see some of them waking up and seeing the bullshit for what it was. As for the rest of them still blindly towing the party line....well, you can't fix stupid.
I come to you all with good news from CA. For those who are familiar with the case of Foster Family Page and the little foster child, Lexi, you know that the former foster family had been fighting an uphill battle to reclaim little Lexi after managing to legally hold her hostage for 3 yrs in an effort to fight reunification and placement efforts with family. When the day came for Lexi to be removed from their home, they'd arranged a massive media circus complete with screaming and wailing people. The idea was to pull at public sympathy, watching as the foster woman and her children screamed in the driveway. Watching as friends of the foster family and neighbors all screamed and carried on as the child was carried to the waiting car. For some, it triggered outrage at social services for snatching that little girl from the "only home she knew" and for others, the outrage was aimed at the family and their supporters. Outrage at how callous they could be in exposing the little girl to such a spectacle.
On their public Facebook page, they make constant claims of how she didn't want to go, didn't know the extended family she was being taken to, was traumatized by her removal from her "true family". The interesting thing is the fact that the court documents they'd provided painted a very different picture. It contradicted their claims. In my first mention of this case, I provided a link to one of the original court opinions. You can find the opinion here: Appellate Opinion 2014.
Lexi was removed from the dysfunctional foster family in March 2016. Moved to the family she knew and knew she would be going to for a long time. Remember, the Pages were well aware that if reunification fell through with her father, she would go to extended family that already had custody of some of her siblings. The family she should have gone to nearly 3 yrs ago had the foster family not dug their talons in and tried to hold her hostage. They'd purposely held onto her as long as they could in the hopes the courts would rule a forced best interest, a common ploy used by wanna be adoptive homes. In this case, because Lexi was a ward of the state, there were state and federal laws in play that have placement preferences in place. Reunification with parents is a first and if that falls through, extended family is the next option. This is common in just about any foster care situation. If children cannot be returned to parents, next of kin is given preference over strangers, even if those strangers were fostering the child for a period of time.
The Pages attempted to appeal the decision and were shot down a few times. They were even rejected by the CA Supreme Court. There was a recent appellate court hearing and the opinion just became available. It's a lengthy read, but worth it. It paints a very very different picture of the foster family.
Appellate Opinion 2016
There were some troubling observations highlighted in section B of the published opinion. Of course, the admin who runs the Save Lexi Facebook page (supporters of the foster parents) and many of their die hard supporters completely ignore the information released regarding how the Pages handled being foster parents.
*refused to allow a second day of visitation with extended family because the social worker was late returning her to their home.
*interfered with her one on one therapy and insisted it happen at their home to allow them to be involved and to monitor her.
*balked at week long visits with extended family, claiming that their own children were not allowed overnight visits at that age.
*frequently claimed child was anxious and difficult after visitations with extended fam and claimed child did not want contact to continue, contrary to what the therapist, social workers and GAL observed
*were hesitant at assisting child in exploring her native roots, refusing to participate in a smudging ceremony, discouraging child from participating and objects made by child found their way to the trash
*their idea of exploring child's native roots was painting a wall Navajo blue.
So there it is. The Page family deemed themselves superior and made every effort they could to interfere with the child being transitioned to her extended family in Utah. They interfered with visitations, attempted to make claims that the extended family caused her anxiety, interfered with her therapy sessions and refused to assist the child in exploring her culture. This is just what is documented in the opinion. And even the professionals involved made it clear that the Pages had failed to perform their duty as foster parents by these actions. Clear efforts were made by Rusty and Summer to isolate Lexi and push themselves onto her as her "only family".
I've heard through sources that the media coverage and opinion documents only chronicle a fraction of the Pages dysfunction in how they handled Lexi. Granted, this is third hand info, so there is no way to validate its accuracy. I've heard through trusted sources that she was actually happy to be taken from their home and tore that tight braid from her hair the moment she stepped foot in Utah. It has been hinted that the Page home had been an unhealthy environment for her. In the comment thread of a recent WND article, there is a commenter stating that cameras were all over the home and the child was videotaped frequently to monitor her. This allegation somewhat mirrors the issue the therapist had with gaining one on one access to Lexi. The Pages balked at individual therapy outside of their home because they wanted to be involved to monitor her and interfered frequently during group sessions. Other allegation by this same commenter are that Lexi was not allowed to play with certain neighborhood children because those children were "going to hell" and that the Pages tried desperately to minimize Lexi's relationship with her siblings in Utah.
The appellate opinion alone highlights the Pages failure to be adequate foster parents once they realized the child would be removed from their home and this information, along with what I've heard through other sources and the commenter in the WND article, paint a very dark and disturbing picture of this family who touted themselves as saviors to this little foster child. I wonder what that child is telling those around her now.
Of course, the Pages and their supporters are wailing and praying and pushing to take this case to the United States Supreme Court. Some are even pointing out that the big win in 2013 (Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl) should be the shoe in they need to get Lexi back into their clutches, even though Adoptive Couple was addressed in early hearings and the courts determined it did not apply to this case. Some have suggested private investigators be hired to stalk and monitor how the child is faring in Utah. A few have outright suggested they just go to Utah and snatch her back.
What took me and others by surprise was the fact that some of their supporters actually took the time to read the documents and started pointing out the misleading misinformation the Pages presented. With the truth published in the most recent appellate opinion, those who took the time to read felt the Pages had lied to them and the child should be left alone. It was good to see some of them waking up and seeing the bullshit for what it was. As for the rest of them still blindly towing the party line....well, you can't fix stupid.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
The Save Lexi Campaign ***UPDATED***
Hello again, kiddie winkles. I know it's been a while and I do apologize. I've been rather busy with a writing project, some vacation planning, an upcoming Comicon and well, adulting in general.
Today I bring to you a case that once again oozes of pure entitlement. Rusty and Summer Page took in a little girl as a foster placement several years ago. She'd become a dependent of the state as a toddler and had been shuffled between a few homes before landing in the Page's home. They originally took her in as respite care, but that eventually turned into full fostering of the girl.
But there was a catch.
Lexi is recognized as Choctaw. And from the moment the Pages took her in, they were well aware that ICWA was dictating the child's case. The tribe permitted the Pages to continue fostering her so it would keep her closer to her father during the reunification planning. But one thing was certain, placement preference would prevail if and when adoption was put on the table. The Pages knew this and had originally agreed to this.
When reunification efforts failed, it was made clear the child would be transitioned to out of state family. That is when the Pages dug their heels in and tried to fight her removal. Sound familiar, no? Time and time again, we hear about entitled fosters and PAPs who cling to the children they take in and try to cry "only home they know". Of course, that is what the Pages are doing. A couple of years, few court hears and an appeals decison later, the child is being removed within the next 24 to 48 hours and they've managed to wrangle a circle of supporters crying foul over what they all say is an unjust law.
For those curious about the background, here is the appeals decision:
Court of Appeals
Of course, if you go to their Facebook page (they all have FB pages, don't they?), they make it sound like the child's native status is a shock, how she's only X% and shouldn't be considered native enough for ICWA to apply and boo hoo, her removal is oh so sudden.
Last time blood quantum came into question, it was when those bastard Justices in the US Supreme Court questioned Veronica Brown's native eligibility. Same shit, different case. Supporters of Veronica's kidnappers held onto her low blood quantum with an iron grip. Nearly every supporter and every media outlet who regurgitated the BS the public relations firm spoon fed them focused on how little native blood Veronica had. And now supporters of the Pages are doing the same.
Funny how a bunch of ignorant non native people clamor on about who should and shouldn't be considered native. Especially when it's a child they want to snatch for their own. They seem to forget that if the tribe considers the child eligible, then that's just how it is, regardless of how much or how little native blood runs through that child's veins. WE don't get to determine that decision. The US Supreme court doesn't get to determine that decision (they haggled over it, but ruled primarily on the Existing Indian Family doctrine). The decision to determine eligibility exists with the tribe alone.
The one thing I caught on to with the Save Lexi campaign were the familiar faces of some of their supporters. A great deal of their supporters supported the kidnapping of Veronica Brown and supported the Hodgins in stealing back Sonya McCaul. Even the Facebook page holds a striking resemblance to the Save Veronica campaign and Keep Sonya Home campaign. And the infamous Lori Alvino-McGill - who is well know for calling Veronica and her sister "illegitimate spawn" and who represented Veronica's seller in a lawsuit to dismantle ICWA - is on board with this case, spewing her usual lies. Kid you not. She posted an update on the family's Facebook support page, claiming that the family Lexi will be going to doesn't even know the child.
Everyone supporting the Page family keeps rattling on about how it's the only home she's ever known, it will be traumatic, it's not in her best interest. They said the same about the Hodgins and Sonya (the Hodgins literally stole the child and tied it up in court for 8 yrs). Funny how 2 1/2 yrs ago they were saying tearing Veronica Brown away from her dad to live a life as a hostage wouldn't hurt her at all. Tearing a 4 yr old little girl away from the only family she knew and being forced to live with people she didn't remember and only met once during a brief supervised visit. It's perfectly fine when wanna be adopters do it, but if it's the other way around, then it's the end of the world for the child and so horrible.
They just need to admit that they're thinking about their own best interest. Not the child's. The child isn't being torn away to live with strangers. She's had frequent contact with the family she is going to and had it for quite some time. Everyone involved knew the child would go to out of state family if reunification efforts with her father failed. It's not a surprise. This isn't some sudden change in placement that hit them broadside. The Pages have known for years that the child would not be theirs to adopt. They're the ones to blame for dragging this out longer than necessary. They're the ones who tied it up in court for nearly three years in the hopes they'd get a best interest ruling. They're the ones who have now turned what should be a simple and quiet transfer of placement into a big goddamned circus. People are actually suggesting they help bar social workers from removing the girl by force. They support making this child's transition as traumatic as humanly possible. How is that in the child's best interest?
3/22/2016 ***UPDATE***
On 3/21/2016, around 3:00PM PST, LA County Children's Services arrived to pick Lexi up from the Page home. Surrounded by screaming protesters, news crews and the infamous Troy Dunn, who is best known for stalking Veronica Brown at her school, Lexi was moved through a sea of cameras and screams. People rushed the car with cameras and phones, yelling at her through the glass. Summer Page and the Page children stood in the driveway in hysterics over handing the child over.
It was a horrific thing to watch. And this is what the Page family and their supporters wanted the world to see. They could have arranged a secluded and private transfer somewhere away from the circus, but no, it couldn't happen any other way.
Today I bring to you a case that once again oozes of pure entitlement. Rusty and Summer Page took in a little girl as a foster placement several years ago. She'd become a dependent of the state as a toddler and had been shuffled between a few homes before landing in the Page's home. They originally took her in as respite care, but that eventually turned into full fostering of the girl.
But there was a catch.
Lexi is recognized as Choctaw. And from the moment the Pages took her in, they were well aware that ICWA was dictating the child's case. The tribe permitted the Pages to continue fostering her so it would keep her closer to her father during the reunification planning. But one thing was certain, placement preference would prevail if and when adoption was put on the table. The Pages knew this and had originally agreed to this.
When reunification efforts failed, it was made clear the child would be transitioned to out of state family. That is when the Pages dug their heels in and tried to fight her removal. Sound familiar, no? Time and time again, we hear about entitled fosters and PAPs who cling to the children they take in and try to cry "only home they know". Of course, that is what the Pages are doing. A couple of years, few court hears and an appeals decison later, the child is being removed within the next 24 to 48 hours and they've managed to wrangle a circle of supporters crying foul over what they all say is an unjust law.
For those curious about the background, here is the appeals decision:
Court of Appeals
Of course, if you go to their Facebook page (they all have FB pages, don't they?), they make it sound like the child's native status is a shock, how she's only X% and shouldn't be considered native enough for ICWA to apply and boo hoo, her removal is oh so sudden.
Last time blood quantum came into question, it was when those bastard Justices in the US Supreme Court questioned Veronica Brown's native eligibility. Same shit, different case. Supporters of Veronica's kidnappers held onto her low blood quantum with an iron grip. Nearly every supporter and every media outlet who regurgitated the BS the public relations firm spoon fed them focused on how little native blood Veronica had. And now supporters of the Pages are doing the same.
Funny how a bunch of ignorant non native people clamor on about who should and shouldn't be considered native. Especially when it's a child they want to snatch for their own. They seem to forget that if the tribe considers the child eligible, then that's just how it is, regardless of how much or how little native blood runs through that child's veins. WE don't get to determine that decision. The US Supreme court doesn't get to determine that decision (they haggled over it, but ruled primarily on the Existing Indian Family doctrine). The decision to determine eligibility exists with the tribe alone.
The one thing I caught on to with the Save Lexi campaign were the familiar faces of some of their supporters. A great deal of their supporters supported the kidnapping of Veronica Brown and supported the Hodgins in stealing back Sonya McCaul. Even the Facebook page holds a striking resemblance to the Save Veronica campaign and Keep Sonya Home campaign. And the infamous Lori Alvino-McGill - who is well know for calling Veronica and her sister "illegitimate spawn" and who represented Veronica's seller in a lawsuit to dismantle ICWA - is on board with this case, spewing her usual lies. Kid you not. She posted an update on the family's Facebook support page, claiming that the family Lexi will be going to doesn't even know the child.
Everyone supporting the Page family keeps rattling on about how it's the only home she's ever known, it will be traumatic, it's not in her best interest. They said the same about the Hodgins and Sonya (the Hodgins literally stole the child and tied it up in court for 8 yrs). Funny how 2 1/2 yrs ago they were saying tearing Veronica Brown away from her dad to live a life as a hostage wouldn't hurt her at all. Tearing a 4 yr old little girl away from the only family she knew and being forced to live with people she didn't remember and only met once during a brief supervised visit. It's perfectly fine when wanna be adopters do it, but if it's the other way around, then it's the end of the world for the child and so horrible.
They just need to admit that they're thinking about their own best interest. Not the child's. The child isn't being torn away to live with strangers. She's had frequent contact with the family she is going to and had it for quite some time. Everyone involved knew the child would go to out of state family if reunification efforts with her father failed. It's not a surprise. This isn't some sudden change in placement that hit them broadside. The Pages have known for years that the child would not be theirs to adopt. They're the ones to blame for dragging this out longer than necessary. They're the ones who tied it up in court for nearly three years in the hopes they'd get a best interest ruling. They're the ones who have now turned what should be a simple and quiet transfer of placement into a big goddamned circus. People are actually suggesting they help bar social workers from removing the girl by force. They support making this child's transition as traumatic as humanly possible. How is that in the child's best interest?
3/22/2016 ***UPDATE***
On 3/21/2016, around 3:00PM PST, LA County Children's Services arrived to pick Lexi up from the Page home. Surrounded by screaming protesters, news crews and the infamous Troy Dunn, who is best known for stalking Veronica Brown at her school, Lexi was moved through a sea of cameras and screams. People rushed the car with cameras and phones, yelling at her through the glass. Summer Page and the Page children stood in the driveway in hysterics over handing the child over.
It was a horrific thing to watch. And this is what the Page family and their supporters wanted the world to see. They could have arranged a secluded and private transfer somewhere away from the circus, but no, it couldn't happen any other way.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
The Fight For Baby Kaylee
Colby Nielson is a young 20 yr old Utah father to a three week old baby girl named
Kaylee. Through out the pregnancy, Colby and his then girlfriend
Amily, were pushed to relinquish for adoption by Amily’s own parents.
Discussions were had and even a meeting with a potential couple (who are
friends of the mother’s parents). Colby and Amily decided adoption was
not an option and when Kaylee was born, they brought her home to
Colby’s parents’ home. Colby doted upon his new daughter. Amily seemed
unsure. At some point, Amily simply left, leaving Colby alone to care
for his newborn daughter.
Colby got the shock of his life when he received word that Amily, under the pressure of her strict uber religious parents, had signed relinquishment papers and the couple seeking to adopt Kaylee had obtained a court order demanding the infant’s turnover from Colby’s care. They sent police to his home to snatch his baby girl.
Colby was on Kaylee’s birth certificate. Kaylee even had his last name. Paternity was verified. And yet, Utah law allows unwed mothers to relinquish their children for adoption without the permission or knowledge of the child’s father. Colby isn’t alone in this. There are numerous men still fighting against the kidnapping of their children. Some have been fighting for years and years.
Colby’s heartbreaking story came across as a simple Facebook post asking for shares. The public was outraged that the courts could demand a father hand over his child to strangers without any notice when he’d done nothing wrong. Soon media began picking up the story and a sobbing Colby pleads with the baby snatching adopters to give him back his daughter.
The names of the baby snatchers were revealed publicly and they received a great deal of angry hate mail from an outraged public. It was the same couple they’d talked with prior to Kaylee’s birth, the friends of Amily’s parents. Out of the blue, with no notice to Colby or his lawyer, Kaylee was simply given back to her mother and Colby has yet to see his baby girl. The baby snatchers made a public statement claiming they did not know that Colby wanted to parent. This claim was refuted quickly when Colby’s lawyer revealed text messages between Colby and the baby snatcher woman, begging them to not take his daughter and to give her back. The baby snatcher woman responded with “This is god’s will” and “it will be an open adoption” and “you’ll be part of the family”.
So….what was that about not knowing he wanted her again? And their insistence that he’d met with them prior to Kaylee’s birth and they thought he was totally on board with the adoption? Well, let’s see….meeting with a potential couple does not equal consent to an adoption and I would think taking his daughter home with him from the hospital was also a sign he clearly had no plans on relinquishing.
Amily still has baby Kaylee and is refusing Colby contact. His lawyer is working hard to right this wrong. Many speculate the mother may try to pass baby Kaylee off to a new couple. Given how ridiculously biased Utah law is, no doubt she is keeping Kaylee from him not only as punishment for refusing to go through with the adoption, but to also claim lack of interest/abandonment so she can simply give Kaylee up again.
A small few are trying to claim the fight is over, but this fight is far from it. It won't be over until Kaylee is back with her Daddy.
Colby got the shock of his life when he received word that Amily, under the pressure of her strict uber religious parents, had signed relinquishment papers and the couple seeking to adopt Kaylee had obtained a court order demanding the infant’s turnover from Colby’s care. They sent police to his home to snatch his baby girl.
Colby was on Kaylee’s birth certificate. Kaylee even had his last name. Paternity was verified. And yet, Utah law allows unwed mothers to relinquish their children for adoption without the permission or knowledge of the child’s father. Colby isn’t alone in this. There are numerous men still fighting against the kidnapping of their children. Some have been fighting for years and years.
Colby’s heartbreaking story came across as a simple Facebook post asking for shares. The public was outraged that the courts could demand a father hand over his child to strangers without any notice when he’d done nothing wrong. Soon media began picking up the story and a sobbing Colby pleads with the baby snatching adopters to give him back his daughter.
The names of the baby snatchers were revealed publicly and they received a great deal of angry hate mail from an outraged public. It was the same couple they’d talked with prior to Kaylee’s birth, the friends of Amily’s parents. Out of the blue, with no notice to Colby or his lawyer, Kaylee was simply given back to her mother and Colby has yet to see his baby girl. The baby snatchers made a public statement claiming they did not know that Colby wanted to parent. This claim was refuted quickly when Colby’s lawyer revealed text messages between Colby and the baby snatcher woman, begging them to not take his daughter and to give her back. The baby snatcher woman responded with “This is god’s will” and “it will be an open adoption” and “you’ll be part of the family”.
So….what was that about not knowing he wanted her again? And their insistence that he’d met with them prior to Kaylee’s birth and they thought he was totally on board with the adoption? Well, let’s see….meeting with a potential couple does not equal consent to an adoption and I would think taking his daughter home with him from the hospital was also a sign he clearly had no plans on relinquishing.
Amily still has baby Kaylee and is refusing Colby contact. His lawyer is working hard to right this wrong. Many speculate the mother may try to pass baby Kaylee off to a new couple. Given how ridiculously biased Utah law is, no doubt she is keeping Kaylee from him not only as punishment for refusing to go through with the adoption, but to also claim lack of interest/abandonment so she can simply give Kaylee up again.
A small few are trying to claim the fight is over, but this fight is far from it. It won't be over until Kaylee is back with her Daddy.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Corruption Out of Benton County
I actually had another post planned, but this one is immensely urgent. There is another illegal adoption going down and the father is up against an entire court filled with monsters.
Trent Reicks did everything the law required of him to assert his rights over his daughter. He wasn't supposed to know about the mother's plan to give their baby up behind his back, but when he was informed of the mother's plan, he wanted to make sure the law was on his side.
What Trent didn't know was that the couple seeking to claim his daughter as their own were lawyers. Paul Morris worked out of a local firm Wright, Lindsey and Jennings LLP and the wife, Stephanie McLemore (Morris) was the deputy prosecuting attorney. Already, one can tell that this was not going to be an easy fight for Trent.
Trent met with the couple in the hopes that they would realize that his daughter had a family that wanted her and would turn her over. They had no intention of giving Trent his baby. As a matter of fact, they informed him if he attempted to fight, they'd make sure he never received a scrap of info on the infant.
Trent took a chance and started legal proceedings to protect his right to parent his daughter. The judge, Xollie Duncan, granted the Morris' petition to TPR Trent on the grounds of unreasonably with-holding consent. I shit you not. They terminated his rights on what amounts to a bullshit reason. As far as I know, such grounds do not even exist, but this disgusting bitch judge did just that. It should also be noted that Duncan is actually Paul and Stephanie's friend. Is this not a massive conflict of interest? How can the judge overseeing an adoption case keep bias out of their decision when the couple seeking to kidnap (i mean, "adopt") are her own best buds?
Then, to add insult to injury, this skanky judge put a gag on the case to ensure Trent couldn't speak out against the corruption or go to the media regarding the kidnapping of his daughter.
As far as I know, Duncan finalized the adoption and the two kidnapping lawyers were good to their word about keeping Trent out of the loop regarding his daughter. They want him to vanish. No doubt Trent is working on an appeal. I don't know for sure since the kidnappers and their judge friend slapped a gag order down, but here's to hope. He did everything by the book and has a solid case. The connections and conflict of interest in the adoption case is enough for him to fight and take it to higher courts.
The world needs to know that Benton County Arkansas is run by kidnappers and friends of kidnappers. Paul Morris, Stephanie McLemore and Xollie Duncan conspired and kidnapped a baby at birth and then TPR'd the father on non existent grounds.
Let the world see them all. Kidnappers. Thieves. Monsters. Your lie will not live forever.
The lawyers, Paul and Stephanie:
And here is their judge friend, Xollie Dunan:
Trent Reicks did everything the law required of him to assert his rights over his daughter. He wasn't supposed to know about the mother's plan to give their baby up behind his back, but when he was informed of the mother's plan, he wanted to make sure the law was on his side.
What Trent didn't know was that the couple seeking to claim his daughter as their own were lawyers. Paul Morris worked out of a local firm Wright, Lindsey and Jennings LLP and the wife, Stephanie McLemore (Morris) was the deputy prosecuting attorney. Already, one can tell that this was not going to be an easy fight for Trent.
Trent met with the couple in the hopes that they would realize that his daughter had a family that wanted her and would turn her over. They had no intention of giving Trent his baby. As a matter of fact, they informed him if he attempted to fight, they'd make sure he never received a scrap of info on the infant.
Trent took a chance and started legal proceedings to protect his right to parent his daughter. The judge, Xollie Duncan, granted the Morris' petition to TPR Trent on the grounds of unreasonably with-holding consent. I shit you not. They terminated his rights on what amounts to a bullshit reason. As far as I know, such grounds do not even exist, but this disgusting bitch judge did just that. It should also be noted that Duncan is actually Paul and Stephanie's friend. Is this not a massive conflict of interest? How can the judge overseeing an adoption case keep bias out of their decision when the couple seeking to kidnap (i mean, "adopt") are her own best buds?
Then, to add insult to injury, this skanky judge put a gag on the case to ensure Trent couldn't speak out against the corruption or go to the media regarding the kidnapping of his daughter.
As far as I know, Duncan finalized the adoption and the two kidnapping lawyers were good to their word about keeping Trent out of the loop regarding his daughter. They want him to vanish. No doubt Trent is working on an appeal. I don't know for sure since the kidnappers and their judge friend slapped a gag order down, but here's to hope. He did everything by the book and has a solid case. The connections and conflict of interest in the adoption case is enough for him to fight and take it to higher courts.
The world needs to know that Benton County Arkansas is run by kidnappers and friends of kidnappers. Paul Morris, Stephanie McLemore and Xollie Duncan conspired and kidnapped a baby at birth and then TPR'd the father on non existent grounds.
Let the world see them all. Kidnappers. Thieves. Monsters. Your lie will not live forever.
The lawyers, Paul and Stephanie:
And here is their judge friend, Xollie Dunan:
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Veronica Brown - One Year Later
Today marks the one year anniversary of the kidnapping of Veronica Brown by Matt and Melanie Capobianco. They are still insisting on privacy and keep her hidden from public view. Rumors are circulating that the child is indeed being isolated from others, only paraded around a select handful of people, not allowed access to any other children and being drugged heavily to keep her compliant. Recent photos found of Veronica show a child who has lost her spark and who has gained a significant amount of weight, which most know is usually a sign a child is being drugged with something.
I would like to think the weight gain is due to unhealthy eating habits, and it's possible this may be the case. After all, the kidnappers planned to use cookie therapy. Whenever she cried for her Daddy, give her a cookie to shut her up so they wouldn't have to be face to face with the hurt and confusion they caused. It's just as likely they're feeding her pain with food and now causing a potential eating disorder. Whatever is happening, they're to blame for it, plain and simple.
Both Tulsa World and The Post and Courier ran brief articles about the one year mark. Both the Browns and the kidnappers have refused any interviews. Dusten Brown is still being manipulated and strong armed to remain silent about what he thinks of them snatching his child away. He's not allowed to say how outraged he is. He's supposed to act like they're some big happy fucking family when these monsters used the courts to kidnap HIS daughter, put charges against him for refusing to give them HIS daughter and now has to watch his daughter be abused through food manipulation, possibly drugs and complete social isolation by a couple of monsters who paid everyone off around him to take his baby from him.
Yes, she is being abused. What happened to her is child abuse. These monsters took her from her family, forced a fake identity onto her, isolate her from everyone and are either shoving food or drugs down her throat to keep her compliant. The kidnappers might not be physically harming her, but what they've done and continue to do to this child is abuse all the same.
One has to wonder just why the kidnappers are not flaunting their prize on the one year mark. If she is as happy and adjusted as their circle of supporters and friends are claiming, why not post her face on national TV proclaiming her love and adoration for her new mommy and daddy? *please excuse me while I vomit* After all, they flaunted her face and name in every media outlet that gave them face-time, they made sure the public knew who Veronica Brown was. And other than a few photos taken mere days after she was snatched, no public photos of the child have been released. The Capobiancos have proven themselves to be utter media whores and no doubt would have jumped at the chance to flaunt their little puppet trophy onto live television if she was as happy and content as they all are trying to claim.
Their refusal to do media interviews and refusal to show the world Veronica Brown on the one year mark of her kidnapping reveal a lot more than anyone is willing to admit. That Veronica Brown is not happy and adjusted. That she still asks for her Daddy and when she can go home. Their illusion of this happy family would be smashed to dust once the world got a glimpse of how Veronica was really doing. And if they are drugging her or using food to feed her pain, all the more reason to keep her hidden away. The world cannot know that Veronica is unhappy, angry, possibly overweight and still wanting to go back home to her Daddy in Oklahoma.
Sadly, the world considers Veronica Brown old news now. We're all supposed to just be glad she was snatched by a "loving" family and should just leave her alone and let her have peace. The Capobiancos are the ones responsible for turning her into a public figure and no, we will not leave it alone. She didn't deserve to be kidnapped through the courts and forced to live with strangers. She didn't deserve to have her complete identity stripped from her. She didn't deserve to have her name (AKA Baby Girl) listed along with her father and the Cherokee Nation in a lawsuit filed by the kidnappers. The Capobiancos are the ones responsible for the public knowing who Veronica Brown is. And now they're keeping her hidden to keep their abuses from becoming known. Keeping her hidden because the world can't see what they've turned her into. Screw peace. Make those monsters fear stepping out their doors. They will never have a moment's peace until Veronica escapes from them.
Just remember, Matt and Melanie, your crime will not be brushed under the rug forever. You and your friends from Trio Solutions can't silence everyone.
I would like to think the weight gain is due to unhealthy eating habits, and it's possible this may be the case. After all, the kidnappers planned to use cookie therapy. Whenever she cried for her Daddy, give her a cookie to shut her up so they wouldn't have to be face to face with the hurt and confusion they caused. It's just as likely they're feeding her pain with food and now causing a potential eating disorder. Whatever is happening, they're to blame for it, plain and simple.
Both Tulsa World and The Post and Courier ran brief articles about the one year mark. Both the Browns and the kidnappers have refused any interviews. Dusten Brown is still being manipulated and strong armed to remain silent about what he thinks of them snatching his child away. He's not allowed to say how outraged he is. He's supposed to act like they're some big happy fucking family when these monsters used the courts to kidnap HIS daughter, put charges against him for refusing to give them HIS daughter and now has to watch his daughter be abused through food manipulation, possibly drugs and complete social isolation by a couple of monsters who paid everyone off around him to take his baby from him.
Yes, she is being abused. What happened to her is child abuse. These monsters took her from her family, forced a fake identity onto her, isolate her from everyone and are either shoving food or drugs down her throat to keep her compliant. The kidnappers might not be physically harming her, but what they've done and continue to do to this child is abuse all the same.
One has to wonder just why the kidnappers are not flaunting their prize on the one year mark. If she is as happy and adjusted as their circle of supporters and friends are claiming, why not post her face on national TV proclaiming her love and adoration for her new mommy and daddy? *please excuse me while I vomit* After all, they flaunted her face and name in every media outlet that gave them face-time, they made sure the public knew who Veronica Brown was. And other than a few photos taken mere days after she was snatched, no public photos of the child have been released. The Capobiancos have proven themselves to be utter media whores and no doubt would have jumped at the chance to flaunt their little puppet trophy onto live television if she was as happy and content as they all are trying to claim.
Their refusal to do media interviews and refusal to show the world Veronica Brown on the one year mark of her kidnapping reveal a lot more than anyone is willing to admit. That Veronica Brown is not happy and adjusted. That she still asks for her Daddy and when she can go home. Their illusion of this happy family would be smashed to dust once the world got a glimpse of how Veronica was really doing. And if they are drugging her or using food to feed her pain, all the more reason to keep her hidden away. The world cannot know that Veronica is unhappy, angry, possibly overweight and still wanting to go back home to her Daddy in Oklahoma.
Sadly, the world considers Veronica Brown old news now. We're all supposed to just be glad she was snatched by a "loving" family and should just leave her alone and let her have peace. The Capobiancos are the ones responsible for turning her into a public figure and no, we will not leave it alone. She didn't deserve to be kidnapped through the courts and forced to live with strangers. She didn't deserve to have her complete identity stripped from her. She didn't deserve to have her name (AKA Baby Girl) listed along with her father and the Cherokee Nation in a lawsuit filed by the kidnappers. The Capobiancos are the ones responsible for the public knowing who Veronica Brown is. And now they're keeping her hidden to keep their abuses from becoming known. Keeping her hidden because the world can't see what they've turned her into. Screw peace. Make those monsters fear stepping out their doors. They will never have a moment's peace until Veronica escapes from them.
Just remember, Matt and Melanie, your crime will not be brushed under the rug forever. You and your friends from Trio Solutions can't silence everyone.
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