I'm a bit baffled that, if there's already a history with protective services, it would have taken them this long after the mysterious disappearance of a child to step back in and removed the other children.
less than a week for CPS to step in and remove children? From what I've read on most CPS policies....to me that was a lightening fast response. IMO
I'm a bit baffled that, if there's already a history with protective services, it would have taken them this long after the mysterious disappearance of a child to step back in and removed the other children.
Even with a history of DCF involvement (IF indeed that turns out to be the case) I would imagine DCF would need more than a missing child to remove the children. It is not illegal to have a child go missing. In this litigious day and age, until LE could give them some sort of reason to believe
a) a parent is responsible either directly or thru negligence for the missing child situation
or
b) the conditions of the home when searched by LE made LE feel uncomfortable enough about the welfare of the other children to re-involve the agency
I imagine LE and any other involved agencies are making sure they are following the letter of the law in their dealings with the Lunsfords.
MOO
anyone here familiar with the CPS policies in West Virginia? Any foster parents around?
Excellent point.IMO, things changed quite a bit when the FBI became involved with the case.
Excellent point.
I'm still unclear, though, why they became involved in the case. Especially because the case does not exactly shout out, "Kidnapping!" (which would allow via their charter the FBI to intercede).
From that same link upstream.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemw...e/index.cfm?event=stateStatutes.processSearch
I learned about this in the Lindsey Baum Case.
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/vc_majorthefts/cac/card
CARD Teams are primarily involved in non-family child abductions, ransom child abductions, and mysterious disappearances of children.
Excellent point.
I'm still unclear, though, why they became involved in the case. Especially because the case does not exactly shout out, "Kidnapping!" (which would allow via their charter the FBI to intercede).
um, wow. That is a lot of trash, particularly since the family has only lived there a short while. I have seen lots of times in my neighborhood where people (usually renters) do not have garbage pick up and fill their garage with the garbage til it draws rats. Sometimes you will see people fly dumping it in the alleyways, or otherwise dealing with their garbage by other means than garbage service. But to just accumulate it in the house???? Uggh, I would hate to think of the smell alone after a month.
If that trash was all over in the house , that is reason enough to remove children from the house. The living conditions were not proper for the children.
I read awhile back that the FBI made a policy change and decided to start getting into missing kids cases. They felt they had a lot of equipment and know how that police forces might not have.
Have they taken over the case like that one TV station is reporting? I don't know but I find it hard to believe a sheriff would give up total control like that.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/define.pdf#Page=2&view=Fit
West Virginia
Physical Abuse
Citation: Ann. Code § 49-1-3
Abused child means a child whose health or welfare is harmed or threatened by:
A parent, guardian, or custodian who knowingly or intentionally inflicts, attempts to inflict, or knowingly allows another person to inflict, physical injury or mental or emotional injury upon the child or another child in the home
Sexual abuse or sexual exploitation
The sale or attempted sale of a child by a parent, guardian, or custodian in violation of the law
Domestic violence, as defined by § 48-27-202
Physical injury as a result of excessive corporal punishment
BBM....does this mean if there is a history of domestic violence with the parents a child can be removed?