Found Deceased MI - Venus Stewart, 32, Colon, 28 April 2010 - # 6 *D. Stewart guilty*

[Cubby]

BBM...

Cubby, that worries me too! I am hoping that the judge knows what's what and leaves the children in the custody of their grandparents.

Me too, but I just don't know how they can. Maybe they can for a little while but not permanently. DrewP had custody of his kids - until he was arrested for Kathleens murder. Craig Stebic has custody of his kids and Lisa's parents had to fight for any kind of visitation... as he was not allowing them contact.

Not at all a pretty picture and one that pains me to think about for those who love Venus.

 

[Cubby]

I wonder if LE will change this from a missing persons case to a murder case. I wonder if they have enough evidence to do that yet. If so, and DS remains the primary/sole POI that would be enough to allow the grandparents custody.

In any case, DS going for custody of those kids means LE has more of a fire under their butts to move this case along..... at least I hope it does!

 

[pufnstuf]

This comes from the facebook public page "Where is Venus Stewart?"

Venus' sister says that MSP officers swarmed Doug's father's place yesterday, and she hopes that they finally got a search warrant.

 

[pufnstuf]

Me too, but I just don't know how they can. Maybe they can for a little while but not permanently. DrewP had custody of his kids - until he was arrested for Kathleens murder. Craig Stebic has custody of his kids and Lisa's parents had to fight for any kind of visitation... as he was not allowing them contact.

Not at all a pretty picture and one that pains me to think about for those who love Venus.

Ohhh.... and that other case, what was it? Just recently the father (a firefighter and EMT) was arrested for his wife's murder and the children removed from the home. EVERYONE knew he did it! He even stole cleaning supplies from the HAZMAT station of his FD on the night that she went missing, and there were positive luminol and heme signs of blood throughout the house.

Can't think of that guy's name... Shon something.

I'm more worried about the psychological danger for Venus' kids. I can't imagine anything more terrifying than knowing that their mommy is gone and now they've got to leave their safe place and go back with the father from whom they escaped.

Again, I'm not a religious person, but I am praying and sending vibes, just hoping that the two little ones are kept safe.

 

[darlin gal]

Ohhh.... and that other case, what was it? Just recently the father (a firefighter and EMT) was arrested for his wife's murder and the children removed from the home. EVERYONE knew he did it! He even stole cleaning supplies from the HAZMAT station of his FD on the night that she went missing, and there were positive luminol and heme signs of blood throughout the house.

Can't think of that guy's name... Shon something.

I'm more worried about the psychological danger for Venus' kids. I can't imagine anything more terrifying than knowing that their mommy is gone and now they've got to leave their safe place and go back with the father from whom they escaped.

Again, I'm not a religious person, but I am praying and sending vibes, just hoping that the two little ones are kept safe.

Shon Pernice - Indicted just this month. His wife Rene has been "missing" since 1/09.

Her parents fought to get custody and then dad was only allowed supervised visits...till his arrest of course.
http://www.kmbc.com/news/23598055/detail.html

 

[cluciano63]

I wish MI police would get on the backs of the CSI labs to get them some results...it seems that a case like this, loaded with danger, should be a priority and be able to move up in line...and I hope it is not true that they are just now bringing the truck up from VA; hoping the press had that wrong this weekend, as so many press articles of late have had details wrong, in almost every case on this board...

 

[Natal]

Larry McComb, Stewart’s father, said Monday that he expects the court will appoint he and his wife, Therese, to continue caring for the girls, ages 5 and 3.

But McComb said they won’t return to the couple’s rural Colon Township home until after high fencing, security cameras and guard dogs are in place.​

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/05/missing_woman_venus_stewarts_e.html​

Is he being serious???

 

[Cubby]

Is he being serious???

If that is what he feels he needs to do to keep his family safe, when his daughter was abducted from that home why not? As long as doing so doesn't violate any local building ordinances he is free to do what he feels he needs to do to protect his family.

I'm not sure how his choices to protect his family are relative to finding Venus, which is what the thread is about.

Cubby

 

[pufnstuf]

I wonder if LE will change this from a missing persons case to a murder case. I wonder if they have enough evidence to do that yet. If so, and DS remains the primary/sole POI that would be enough to allow the grandparents custody.

In any case, DS going for custody of those kids means LE has more of a fire under their butts to move this case along..... at least I hope it does!

I had the same thought. This may be a blessing in disguise!

 

[BeanE]

Sounds like a wonderful environment for child-rearing.
But I'm a bit concerned: no perimeter lined with tripwire-activated claymores or sniper's nest on the roof? Larry must've skipped the chapter in "It Takes A Village (and Lotsa Ammo)" on properly setting-up an armed compound.

That is a scary environment for children. I'm afraid it would engender great fear in them, not to mention the risk of them getting injured from the dogs or the guns! Dear Lord.

I do understand their grandparents concern for their safety from DS having just had their daughter abducted and her being missing. I don't know what the answer is for these little girls.

I wouldn't want to have to make the decisions on their care right now, that's for sure.

 

[BeanE]

This comes from the facebook public page "Where is Venus Stewart?"

Venus' sister says that MSP officers swarmed Doug's father's place yesterday, and she hopes that they finally got a search warrant.

Do you have the link for that FB, puffy?

TIA

 

[BeanE]

I wish MI police would get on the backs of the CSI labs to get them some results...it seems that a case like this, loaded with danger, should be a priority and be able to move up in line...and I hope it is not true that they are just now bringing the truck up from VA; hoping the press had that wrong this weekend, as so many press articles of late have had details wrong, in almost every case on this board...

What is it with these reporters??? In Gabe's case, there is one news outlet who has consistently been behind the others in getting stories out, and when they do, they are more comprehensive, more well-written, and their facts are obviously checked. I don't mind at all waiting a day or two for articles like this. They're well worth it.

 

[BeanE]

Terry Evans, St. Joseph County Juvenile Court director, said a hearing has been scheduled for Friday on a child neglect petition filed by St. Joseph County Child Protective Services.

snip

St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough said he will represent DHS Child Protective Services at the hearing on Friday.

A juvenile court referee is scheduled to determine if a child neglect petition should be authorized.

If the petition is approved, it begins the process for DHS, under the court’s jurisdiction, to assume legal responsibility for the children and decide who will have at least temporary custody.

McDonough said Monday that he will recommend Douglas Stewart not be granted custody of the two girls “for pretty obvious reasons.”

“We don’t have any idea where Venus Stewart is and he’s the only person of interest in the case,” McDonough said.


http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/05/missing_woman_venus_stewarts_e.html

I'm not sure I understand this. Who is the neglect petition against? Or is it just a general "mom's missing, dad's a POI, nobody has official temp custody right now since mom's missing, we - DHS - better do something" petition?

 

[believe09]

Terry Evans, St. Joseph County Juvenile Court director, said a hearing has been scheduled for Friday on a child neglect petition filed by St. Joseph County Child Protective Services.

snip

St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough said he will represent DHS Child Protective Services at the hearing on Friday.

A juvenile court referee is scheduled to determine if a child neglect petition should be authorized.

If the petition is approved, it begins the process for DHS, under the court’s jurisdiction, to assume legal responsibility for the children and decide who will have at least temporary custody.

McDonough said Monday that he will recommend Douglas Stewart not be granted custody of the two girls “for pretty obvious reasons.”

“We don’t have any idea where Venus Stewart is and he’s the only person of interest in the case,” McDonough said.


http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/05/missing_woman_venus_stewarts_e.html

I'm not sure I understand this. Who is the neglect petition against? Or is it just a general "mom's missing, dad's a POI, nobody has official temp custody right now since mom's missing, we - DHS - better do something" petition?

My assumption is that someone is claiming Venus abandoned the children. It is the fastest way to get the state involved-if the agency is already stating in the media that Doug will not be custodial parent, than LE has some more compelling stuff than has been released, I think.

LE has swarmed Doug's dad's office, hmmm? What does DS's dad do that might bring the spotlight onto him??

 

[Cubby]

Terry Evans, St. Joseph County Juvenile Court director, said a hearing has been scheduled for Friday on a child neglect petition filed by St. Joseph County Child Protective Services.

snip

St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough said he will represent DHS Child Protective Services at the hearing on Friday.

A juvenile court referee is scheduled to determine if a child neglect petition should be authorized.

If the petition is approved, it begins the process for DHS, under the court’s jurisdiction, to assume legal responsibility for the children and decide who will have at least temporary custody.

McDonough said Monday that he will recommend Douglas Stewart not be granted custody of the two girls “for pretty obvious reasons.”

“We don’t have any idea where Venus Stewart is and he’s the only person of interest in the case,” McDonough said.


http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/05/missing_woman_venus_stewarts_e.html

I'm not sure I understand this. Who is the neglect petition against? Or is it just a general "mom's missing, dad's a POI, nobody has official temp custody right now since mom's missing, we - DHS - better do something" petition?

It sounds like a formality in response to DS's petition to the courts on the 14th. DHS has to get involved so DS can't claim 'she abandoned the children with her parents'....... at least that is my understanding.

JMO

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

Do you have the link for that FB, puffy?

TIA

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Where-is-Venus-Stewart/117627371610949?ref=ts

 

[BeanE]

I found a little bit of info on DHS petitions on the Michigan CPS site:

http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5452_7119_7194-159484--,00.html


There are statutes cited there, which can be looked up here:

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(5r3skjnfjy10o3zj4e4hu5md))/mileg.aspx?page=home


Michigan CPS has documents that may be helpful in this case here:

http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5452_7119_25045---,00.html

Report of Actual or Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect - DHS-3200
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dhs/DHS-3200_224934_7.pdf

Child Protection Law - DHS Pub-3
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/DHS-PUB-0003_167609_7.pdf

Children's Protective Services Field Guide - DHS Pub-108
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dhs/DHS-PUB-108_199789_7.pdf

Forensic Interviewing Protocol - DHS Pub-779
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dhs/DHS-PUB-0779_211637_7.pdf

Absent Parent Protocol
http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/resources/standards/APP.pdf

 

[PickieChickie]

The April 24 & 25 dates. Doug does talk to the 3 year old.

Hi Ruby. Can you please provide a link to where you got the information for those two dates please?

 

[PickieChickie]

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Where-is-Venus-Stewart/117627371610949?ref=ts

I searched Facebook for a group before I started mine and wouldn't have if I'd found this one which has people who know the family involved in providing information.

Unfortunately, they started a fan page rather than a group. Because I have both, I know the differences.

Facebook Fan pages are difficult to manage because nobody who comments gets a message when someone comments after they do or comments on a post they made so it is difficult to maintain lively conversations because nobody is being notified when activity is taking place on the page.

When I post a link on my fan page, I don't receive a message when someone comments on it unless I like my own post.

Anyway, I'm glad someone got on the ball and is trying to get people involved in trying to find out what happened to Venus.

 

[TGIRecovered]

I have a six-foot wood privacy fence around my backyard, and a 65 pound dog who loves kids, friends and family, but sounds vicious enough when strangers come around. Most of the homes in my neighborhood have high fences and dogs, and there are probably a few with security cameras, but I've never looked for them. I would bet that most of them have at least one gun, for hunting or personal protection as well. I happen to have a husband in LE, so the gun is a given.

With today's technology, security cameras can be very inconspicuous. They are "everywhere", and go largely unnoticed. I think that it would be possible to make a home relatively secure without making it look like a prison. Think about school playgrounds and daycare centers. Kids feel safe in those places. Security measures can be reassuring.

If the grandparents present the added security measures as a matter of being safer and secure, rather than scared and hiding, I think the kids will be reassured and empowered. I know I would feel very protected if my grandpa had a gun and was willing to do whatever it took to protect me.

Calm and prepared, that's the way to live, IMO.