Question J

[Jonetta]

The night of the murder of Lee and Kate, Child Protective Services chose to remove Carson and Faith from Ellie’s care and put them in foster care. Your thoughts?

[Lauren]

This was totally uncalled for. The CPS woman was being a typical bureaucrat and was completely uncaring about the trauma the children were experiencing. She could have approved Ellie as an emergency foster care placement until Grant or one of the other siblings arrived.

[Christina T]

I don't know enough about the laws or policies on this type of thing but my gut says the same as Lauren. As it was proven Lee and Kate trusted Ellie's family for care of the kids leaving them in her care should have been good enough.

[Robin]

Even though we know that Ellie and her family would take great care of the kids, I don't believe that CPS would be allowed to place the children there without a home study. The liability is just too high. They have emergency foster care homes for times like these. And, if the relatives had been handy, they could have put them there.

[Jonetta]

I believe you’re right, Robin, and they also can make a judgment call in the field in these circumstances. She could have contacted her own supervisor, especially since the kids were left in Ellie’s family’s care by their parents. Her supervisor could have let them stay until Grant arrived. The risk was just about zero. Taking them away did harm to Carson.

[Lauren]

The CPS woman also made some rather inappropriate comments later when she brought Carson and Faith home. It is like she wanted him to fail and put them into foster care. She was a really cold person.

[Robin]

I was really surprised with the things the CPS woman said in front of Carson the night she picked them up for emergency placement.

[Jonetta]

Those children were just tasks she need to complete. She never saw them as vulnerable little human beings.

[Anita]

She was definitely a burnout and needed to hang it up. She was no help or comfort to these children who were traumatized and hurting, especially Carson. In a more rural area like Scarlet Falls, I wouldn't have expected CPS to jump right in and take the children that night.

[Jonetta]

Unfortunately, it’s a call police have to make when they’re involved. No choice in the matter.

[Charlene]

Very sad situation, and I imagine nightmares children taken thus must have.

[Sharon]

The CPS worker is a typical by-the-book government worker. She didn't want to consider the children at all. I did think it was out of character for a small-town agent though. It is possible that her experience is with larger municipalities, or she had a bad experience in her past.

I wasn't impressed with the cops either in this instance. It was like everyone was covering their butts and not considering the children's best interest.

[Jonetta]

Sharon, could the police have contacted CPS the next day?

[Sharon]

Jonetta wrote: "Sharon, could the police have contacted CPS the next day?"

I'm not sure. Rules aren't written in stone in small towns. My husband lived in a small town, and he told me many stories of the cops looking the other way and handling calls based on the families.

My friend works for CPS here in Florida, but he hasn't responded to my text yet. Each state is different though, but I think they have some leeway.

[Jonetta]

Thanks. I know they have to contact them but thought they could have let it slide for the night, especially since they were with the babysitter. It was a reasonable accommodation.

[Lauren]

Jonetta wrote: " It was a reasonable accommodation."

I thought so. It wasn't as if Ellie was a complete stranger. She kids knew her and their parents trusted her. It seemed very petty of the CPS woman to put them through the trauma of a foster home.

[Jonetta]

I think this hit a nerve with all of us.

[Sharon]

Me too. I felt like they knew Grant was on his way. Why did they have to cause more trauma for the kids.

[Jonetta]

You nailed it.

[Karen ♐]

I found this unbelievable. The next door neighbor whose daughter was the kids' babysitter isn't a good option for the weekend? I agree, Sharon. They knew a family member was on the way there.