I have been lurking for several weeks following this case. Now, with the news today I wanted to write to say "There but the grace of God go I." I also wanted to say thank-you to all of you for caring so much about this little girl. My husband and I adopted our two beautiful granddaughters a few years ago. However we had to wait until the law thought the kids were being abused/negected enough to even get the authorities involved. We were told since we were providing all of the financial/emotional care for the children that the children could not be considered neglected.It really is very hard for grandparents to keep the grandkids without consent. I was even threatened with arrest for kidnapping. Meanwhile my daughter who is bi-polar was abusing meth, which caused her to turn manic, yet she still had an amazing ability to make everyone else think she was great. Eventually DCF took the kids and placed them with us. Five long years and financial ruin later, we have two beautiful children that were saved from the possible ending poor Caylee endured.(we had to hire an attorney to keep the state from letting her get the kids back) Our girls suffered abuse by others entrusted with their care, because of the state failing to act. Through out the 5 years of one courrt date after another I saw the PARENTS having the rights and the children are possessions with no rights.We were a normal family and had another daughter that we had no problems with, but this one had a serious mental health problem for which she refused treatment. Now 8years later my daughter has been clean for 6 years, is under a Dr's care and is also doing well.
This type of situation causes incredible stress in the home. The mother of the child will never give custody up to anyone as long as she can use the child as a money tree. I dropped my daughter off at greyhound with a one way ticket out of state and told her I never wanted to speak to her again, nor would the children until a Dr. confirmed she was clean and in treatment and on meds. I think for poor Caylee it's too late. Mental illness and drug abuse destroys families, we were one of the lucky few that made it out okay. God bless you all for all off your devotion to helping Caylee.