Texas Tosses Out 29 More FLDS Child-Welfare Cases
Added on October 17, 2008|
It was the second day in a row 29 cases were dropped; investigations regarding 72 kids continue by Brooke Adams, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 October 2008 For the second day in a row, Texas officials dismissed a large number of children from its massive child welfare investigation of a polygamous sect. On Wednesday, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Cases dismissed cases involving 29 children in Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints families. On Thursday, another 29 children were dropped from the investigation. "As a reminder, a nonsuit ends the lawsuit, or legal case, because court supervision is no longer considered necessary to ensure a child's safety," said spokesman Patrick Crimmins in an e-mail. "Nonsuits can be filed for a variety of reasons - we may have completed an investigation and no abuse or neglect occurred; it could also be that we have decided that even though abuse or neglect has occurred, one or both parents or another suitable family member can ensure the child's protection." Cases involving 72 children are still pending. The state took custody of 439 children in April after raiding the sect's Yearning For Zion Ranch because of allegations of sexual and physical abuse. The call that initiated the raid is now believed a hoax, but investigators said they found evidence of abuse that warranted the children's removal. After two months in state custody, a court ordered that the children be returned to their parents while the state continued its investigation. Since June, the state has nonsuited 367 cases. A grand jury in Schleicher County has indicted nine FLDS men on charges related to underage marriages; some also face bigamy allegations. The grand jury will meet again in November. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10740962 |