Found Safe CA - Arely Anaya and Luis Avalos & King 5, Prince 4, & Legend 3 wks, Sun Valley, 27 Dec 2021

[PommyMommy]

Police Searching For Missing Sun Valley Family - KTVZ

The Los Angeles Police department is searching for a family of five that went missing from their Sun Valley home Monday.

The parents, Arely Anaya and Luis Avalos were under investigation by the Department of Children and Family Services for drug use after both their three-week-old baby and Anaya tested positive for cocaine.

DCFS intended to remove the baby, Legend, and two other children four-year-old Prince Anaya and five-year-old King Anaya, away from their parents. DCFS notified LAPD about the investigation regarding general neglect and narcotics abuse on Dec. 27 and informed police of the pending order to place the children in protective custody as well as the pending arrest warrant for the parents.

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Family missing after baby has cocaine in system, CA cops say | The Sacramento Bee (sacbee.com)


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On Dec. 2, Arely Anaya gave birth to a baby. Both the mother and newborn baby had cocaine in their system on the day the child was born, police said.

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“The parents were made aware of DCFS intention to remove the children from the home and place them in protective custody,” police said in a Dec. 28 news release. “The parents no longer responded to phone calls, nor answered their door.”

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Witnesses told Children and Family Services the parents were worried about their children being taken away and left the home Dec. 23. Police said they may be heading to Reno, Nevada.

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[wdmcmahan]

Why were the parents allowed to take the newborn home if it tested positive for cocaine at birth?!!

 

[swanniee11]

She had the baby on 12/2 and left on 12/23. Why did it take 3 weeks? Get warrants, get in there, who cares if they don't answer the door. Unbelievable.

 

[mjp1228]

Why were the parents allowed to take the newborn home if it tested positive for cocaine at birth?!!

I’m wondering the same thing.

 

[PommyMommy]

I don't get it. I understand there has to be a court order but it seems like the circumstances would have warranted one IMMEDIATELY. @mickey2942?

Critical Missing Family NR21371ml - LAPD Online
On that date, both Legend and the Mother tested positive for cocaine and DCFS was notified. DCFS contacted the parents several times throughout the first half of December 2021. The parents were made aware of DCFS intention to remove the children from the home and place them in protective custody. The parents no longer responded to phone calls, nor answered their door for DCFS.

 

[mickey2942]

I don't get it. I understand there has to be a court order but it seems like the circumstances would have warranted one IMMEDIATELY. @mickey2942?

Critical Missing Family NR21371ml - LAPD Online
On that date, both Legend and the Mother tested positive for cocaine and DCFS was notified. DCFS contacted the parents several times throughout the first half of December 2021. The parents were made aware of DCFS intention to remove the children from the home and place them in protective custody. The parents no longer responded to phone calls, nor answered their door for DCFS.

Well, I wish that we had an alternative. I have known many women who risk an at home birth, because of drug use. Which puts the mother and baby at high risk for death.

This is obviously a family that needs help, and intensive case management, which I would prefer over immediate removal proceedings.

 

[swanniee11]

Do these 2 have any family that can step in and raise those kids until these parents get it together? They are way to young to be in that sort of environment. I just want them safe and then go from there but I do think DCFS needs to be involved ASAP! It's just to risky to have these parents on the run with them. Not to mention the care the infant may need. How in the heck did that mother get out with that baby? IMO

 

[TGIRecovered]

They shouldn't have been allowed to take the baby home from the hospital. It is way more important to protect the children than it is to "manage their case". Child protective services dropped the ball AGAIN, just like they usually do. This is how kids end up dead.
When children test positive for dangerous illegal drugs, go to the home unnanounced with police and rescue those babies! MOO

 

[LeBlack]

IDK if I trust CA DCF and the foster system. Maybe they could find the West boys and I would reconsider. Are children any better off in the system?

edit - idk that it's smart to warn parents that you are coming for them

MOO, IMO

 

[PommyMommy]

Why don't we have a description of their vehicle yet? Do they have one? If not, how are they [possibly] getting to Reno?

 

[mickey2942]

I think that the presence of illegal drugs in a baby's system is an indication that the mother has a substance abuse problem, but does that automatically mean that the mother is neglectful? If we consider drug addiction from the "Medical Model" it is a disorder, and can be treated. Drug addiction is considered a disabling condition. Based on that premise, we would not automatically take a child away from someone who was blind or deaf, unless there was other additional information and facts about neglect. Nor are babies born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome automatically taken away from birth mothers.

I would not fault CPS here. They may have been attempting to find placement for drug addiction treatment for the mother and baby, which has become far more complicated with Covid pandemic. And the mother may have been frustrated and left the hospital.

 

[iQuill]

So ... why would drug addicted parents be advised that their children were going to be taken? Certainly gives them time to flee. So sad. Moo

 

[angelbaker]

My grandsons name is Legend and he is just a couple months older than this little one. I pray they are all safe.

 

[PommyMommy]

I think that the presence of illegal drugs in a baby's system is an indication that the mother has a substance abuse problem, but does that automatically mean that the mother is neglectful? If we consider drug addiction from the "Medical Model" it is a disorder, and can be treated. Drug addiction is considered a disabling condition. Based on that premise, we would not automatically take a child away from someone who was blind or deaf, unless there was other additional information and facts about neglect. Nor are babies born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome automatically taken away from birth mothers.

I would not fault CPS here. They may have been attempting to find placement for drug addiction treatment for the mother and baby, which has become far more complicated with Covid pandemic. And the mother may have been frustrated and left the hospital.

I understand that addiction can be treated but IMO, in the meantime, those children should have been removed and placed in a safe environment. We don't know if the father was also using drugs. We don't know if either or both parents used other drugs or abused alcohol.

Was the mother an IV drug user? What if those children got a hold of a needle? I have no reason to think that she would mean harm to one of her children, but accidents happen.

As one example, Zayden JayNesahkluah was found dead in his own vomit after ingesting methadone that was prescribed to his mother for her heroin addiction. GUILTY - KS - Zayden Jaynesahkluah, 2, suspicious death, Wichita, 31 May 2019 *Mom arrested* (websleuths.com)

The mother's parenting/judgment can be impaired due to drug use, placing the children at risk of neglect. Were the children deprived of food, clothing, health care etc. due to her drug use? We don't know. What kind of criminal activity were they witness to? ie: Did mom take the children with her to buy drugs? Who visited their home? We don't know.

Would anyone here leave their own children with someone using cocaine? I know I wouldn't. Get them to a safe place until it's all sorted out; better safe than sorry, IMO. And, the DFPS investigation did include neglect...

 

[swanniee11]

There is one of those donation setups on FB ( we know the ones) under the fathers name. I think its fraud but if you get a chance read it. IMO

 

[cvaldez1975]

IDK if I trust CA DCF and the foster system. Maybe they could find the West boys and I would reconsider. Are children any better off in the system?

edit - idk that it's smart to warn parents that you are coming for them

MOO, IMO

WA either. look up Oakley C.

 

[dulcinea]

I live in So Cal and work daily with foster children, their foster parents, and often their social workers. I question the system EVERY DAY.

 

[TGIRecovered]

I understand that addiction can be treated but IMO, in the meantime, those children should have been removed and placed in a safe environment. We don't know if the father was also using drugs. We don't know if either or both parents used other drugs or abused alcohol.

Was the mother an IV drug user? What if those children got a hold of a needle? I have no reason to think that she would mean harm to one of her children, but accidents happen.

As one example, Zayden JayNesahkluah was found dead in his own vomit after ingesting methadone that was prescribed to his mother for her heroin addiction. GUILTY - KS - Zayden Jaynesahkluah, 2, suspicious death, Wichita, 31 May 2019 *Mom arrested* (websleuths.com)

The mother's parenting/judgment can be impaired due to drug use, placing the children at risk of neglect. Were the children deprived of food, clothing, health care etc. due to her drug use? We don't know. What kind of criminal activity were they witness to? ie: Did mom take the children with her to buy drugs? Who visited their home? We don't know.

Would anyone here leave their own children with someone using cocaine? I know I wouldn't. Get them to a safe place until it's all sorted out; better safe than sorry, IMO. And, the DFPS investigation did include neglect...

Right, PommyMommy!

I remember how exhausting it is to take care of a newborn baby while recovering from a complicated birth. Even a healthy baby requires 24/7 care.

Since both Mom and baby had cocaine in their blood and non- addicted mothere don't just up and decide to do coke on a lark, it's highly unlikely that there wasn't significant drug abuse and probably smoking/vaping throughout the pregnancy. You can't do that and have a healthy baby. Sick babies are fragile and require extra care. This baby was very likely underweight with underdeveloped lungs at the very least.

If these drug abusers were smokers, that probably increased with the stress of having a newborn. Sleep deprivation, bleeding for 2-3 weeks after delivery, post-partum hormones, dirty clothes, diapers, breastfeeding, bottles, other children who need attention, everyone is hungry, and who has time to potty or take a shower without a child at the door?

This baby and the other children are at high risk for continuous abuse and neglect. Sure, Mom needs long-term inpatient help if she is determined to stop using drugs. She can't do that while caring for a special needs baby. She can't handle a newborn baby. That's not being mean or discompassionate, it is a matter of life and death for the baby, other children and for Mom.

 

[katydid23]

There is one of those donation setups on FB ( we know the ones) under the fathers name. I think its fraud but if you get a chance read it. IMO

is it for money for his fathers funeral?

 

[swanniee11]

is it for money for his fathers funeral?

The birth father ( dad of Legend). I'm not sure how much we can talk about this since I don't think this can be brought here. I was just pointing it out.