[DV_listserv] Child placement after murder

[Domestic Violence issues]

Hi all,

We had an absolutely brutal murder here last week committed by mom against estranged dad while 7 year old child was present.  Unclear how much child saw.  After executing dad, mom calmly calls her own mother to come get the child and waits for law enforcement to arrest her.

Victim's family is understandably horrified and outraged that DHS is allowing child to stay with the murderer's family.  DHS is claiming that mom was custodial parent and so has the legal right to place child wherever she wishes.  Maternal grandparents have kid and are planning to move him to Montana.  As a result, victim's family is potentially facing thousands in legal fees to try to keep access to the child and keep him here. Literally none of this is their fault and frankly, doesn't seem like a battle they should have to fight.

Kid was seen at KIDS Center and there are hints of tampering but not enough I can act on.  Kid has been seen at KIDS Center multiple times before because mom repeatedly made allegations of abuse to anyone who would listen but the kid's disclosures were more consistent with coaching by mom (kid would say he was hurt by dad literally in every portion of the medical exam (i.e., "Has anyone ever hurt your head?" "Devyne" "Has anyone ever hurt your arm?" "Devyne") but couldn't elaborate how he was hurt. At one point during a visit or DHS contact mom literally had to be redirected because she was saying things like "remember how he hurt you?".

Has anyone ever encountered a situation like this and does anyone have any suggestions, guidance, advice, hail Marys that might work to get DHS to re-assess this situation?

Thanks,

Bren

Brentley S. Foster, Chief Deputy District Attorney
Jefferson County District Attorney's Office
129 SW E Street Ste 102
Madras, OR 97741
W: (541) 475-4452 X 4127
C: (541) 777-4511

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/dv_listserv/attachments/20221223/d29b4d0c/attachment.html>