NC - Dorian Harper & Wanda Larson for abuse of foster child, Monroe, 2013

But Robert McCarter, managing attorney for the Council for Children’s Rights in Charlotte, said Union DSS misapplied the relevant state laws in the 2012 case. He also believes the agency erred by not asking another county to take over the case from the start.

McCarter, a former attorney for Mecklenburg County DSS, honed in on the state’s definition of a “neglected juvenile,” defined in part as one “who does not receive proper care, supervision or discipline” from a parent, guardian or caretaker, or “who lives in an environment injurious to the juvenile’s welfare.”

“Perhaps Union County should explain how a complaint that alleges that a child shows up ... begging for food couldn’t possibly be the result of a child not receiving proper care ... or be living in an environment injurious to his health or welfare,” McCarter said.

“The explanation that the allegations didn’t fit the statutory definition is bogus. That would be far too narrow an interpretation of the law.”

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/20...over-handling.html#.UrOLqPRDu0x#storylink=cpy

Thanks scmom. I like this guy :)
 
Before joining DSS, Larson worked with Gaston/Lincoln Mental Health, working with profoundly disturbed behavioral patients, her son said.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/20...unty-faulted-over-handling.html#storylink=cpy

She probably contributed to their problems. Now I really wonder how much damage this woman has caused to how many people? And what did the patients call her, Nurse Ratchett?
 
There is no telling. And Harper (oh he of the short temper) was a nurse before he was fired, scary thought. both involved in careers that put them in authority/charge of vulnerable sick or children. There is no telling the damage done over the years and to how many.

sigh.

I am still absorbing the adult son's story about the attempted choking out incident and how they "just lost there way" in regards to what they should be doing as parents. WTF? Seriously??

I am not sure they ever knew the way. He describes Harper as a short tempered man who tried to choke him out, Larson as a woman who broke up the tussle by striking him and yet still stands fast to the description of them as strict but good parents? Even as he hears about the 11 year old, the chicken, etc.

It is truly mind boggling.
 
What they need as an oversight committee is a group of former foster children.
 
Couple's older son speaks out on abuse allegations

The adopted son of the Union County couple accused of abusing their children defends their character saying, they are "loving" parents.

The man, did not want to be identified. He says he came to live with Wanda Larson and Dorian Harper when he was 14 years old.

He lived under their roof, under their rules, up until two years ago, when he turned 18.

"I grew up in a caring and loving home," he said.

The "punishment," he received at the home he thought was fair and "fit the crime."

snipped

When asked about why his 11 year old sibling would have a dead chicken tied around his neck, he said, "more than likely, the chicken around the neck, was to shame the child. There has to be something going on, between that child and that chicken. He either, one, didn't feed it and it died, or two, either he was out there harassing the chicken. He may have killed the chicken. This child has been known to be cruel to animals," he said.

To his knowledge, the 11year-old boy has been living with the couple since he was 6.

snipped

"Everyone says this is some sweet innocent kid when in actuality, he is not. He has been to counseling, he is on numerous heavy medications, but nothing has worked," he said.

snipped

The accusations, the boy was underfed, he said are also not true. He blames the boy's small frame on a medical condition that stunted his growth since birth.

"He is the type of child when everybody goes to bed at night, he gets up, sneaks downstairs and steals food," he said.

When asked if that was a sign he was not being properly nourished, he replied, "he would sneak out into the garage take raw meat out of the freezer, let it thaw overnight and next day go out there and eat it raw," he said.

"He has severe psychological issues."

"He was not allowed to carry his own lunch box because would eat what food is in his lunch and then, throw the lunch box away and say he didn't have lunch for the day."

snipped

"Everyone assumed all five children in the home have been abused, that is not accurate. You ask all four of the children, they will say they lived in a loving and caring home."

The 11 year old's relatives say they have tried for years to get DSS to look into the allegations of abuse.

They claim to have pictures to prove the child was physically abused and plan to turn it over as evidence to authorities.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Union-County-couples-son-speaks-out-on-abuse--232472731.html

This is unbelievable. This young man has been brainwashed. Still blaming the 11 year old I see. Punishments "fit the crime?" Those words alone say it all. Perhaps the child did have some psych issues, who knows, but he certainly wasn't going to get better in that environment. That said, his alleged psych issues could be the very reason he was chosen by this couple to be adopted. They would always have "psych issues" as a scapegoat.

Before I forget, isn't it odd that this former adoptee describes the act of going for food at night when you are hungry as "stealing"

Much can be gleaned from his statements alone.

I am also curious to know if they have a history of moving around as many serial a users do. Anybody know?
 
Such a shame that oversight investigation is only initiated after the fact. DSS in all states should have a review committee who regularly read case reports and verify that all is being done to protect children.
However, I suspect that after a few years the committee would themselves need an oversight committee and then a few years later....
Why is it that attorneys say children don't make credible witnesses in court but an adult with credentials can be most trustworthy? Wanda Larson had credentials...
This whole thing reeks of corruption, indifference, and power hunger
 
UNION COUNTY, NC -- The fallout continues in the Wanda Sue Larson investigation. WCCB has learned that Larson's boss at the Union County Department of Social Services has been demoted.

http://www.wccbcharlotte.com/news/local/Wanda-Sue-Larsons-Boss-Demoted-Amid-Continuing-Investigation-264345051.html

Union County has finalized its plan for the state on improving its Division of Social Services after a child abuse scandal involving a former child protective services supervisor, officials confirmed Tuesday.

SNIP

In March, the state detailed problems in the DSS operations in Union and Gaston and told the counties to come up with a plan to deal with the issues.


Union’s issues included problems with documenting how child abuse cases are initially handled and a lack of reasonable effort to get all information needed in certain cases.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/20...n-dss-finalizes-improvement.html#.U-ZHbfldUuk

UNION COUNTY, NC (WBTV) -

Union County DSS has been under the microscope every since one of its supervisors was arrested for having a boy handcuffed to her porch with a dead chicken tied around his neck.

That was 8 months ago and when it happened the state came in to review the entire system.

Nearly two dozen people from Union County DSS have retired, resigned or were fired since the arrest of Wanda Sue Larson and her partner Dorian Harper last year. Another person was demoted.

http://www.wistv.com/story/26017545...after-boy-found-with-dead-chicken-around-neck




 

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