I've read a lot of what seems to be rather harsh criticisms of BL. I hear what y'all are saying, but I can't help but wonder how much he was manipulated by AD.
I mean, you want him to be able to ascertain that the living conditions he was sending Shaniya into were unsuitable, yet when DSS investigated regarding her 7yo child, they apparently didn't have any problems with whatever living conditions they witnessed, as she retained custody of the child. I'm not saying that means the living conditions were appropriate for children, as obviously that is untrue, just that some people know how to clean things up, talk a good talk, and put on a good show when they need to. I suspect AD might be just such a person. Apparently, she had a good employment record since June 2008, so she has some capacity to function in society.
I suspect she deliberately manipulated BL in order to get control of Shaniya. You've got a guy who is probably scarred from the loss of his wife, raising 4 older kids. He may have upcoming expenses of college with them, and a terrible economy right now, meaning that the traveling required by his job is unavoidable in order for him to meet his obligations. Yet it takes him away from his kids, and means he is dependent on others to care for them. Which is hard enough with teenagers, but with a 5 year old, that may cause him to feel very guilty. Sure, family and friends are willing to help out, but he already depends on them for so much. And you have a mom, with a 7 year old half-sibling, who wants a chance to be a mother to Shaniya. Does he continue to impose on his sister, who has a family of her own, or does he give mom, who is putting on a really good show, a chance?
I think he felt overwhelmingly guilty about his circumstances, and was manipulated by AD into making a bad choice. I respect that he publicly acknowledges that it was a bad decision. I take his word that he was stunned to hear how deplorable the living situation was with AD.