Columnist Sandy Thompson: Relatives concerned about girl’s placement

Sandy Thompson

Friday, Aug. 3, 2001 | 4:50 a.m.

Sandy Thompson is vice president/associate editor of the Las Vegas Sun. She can be reached at 259-4025 or by e-mail at thompson@lasvegassun.com

ANNIE WAS only 3 years old when her 18-month-old brother, Adrian, died. But relatives say she clearly remembers that fateful day in 1997.

The children were playing at home when their mother yelled at them to be quiet. Then the mother hit Adrian so hard that he fell, hitting his head on a rocking chair. When he didn't get up, the mother allegedly put him in his bed. He never woke up.

The cause of death was listed as cerebral edema, possibly traumatic in nature. An autopsy showed that Adrian's body had bruises and injuries in different stages of healing. He still had marks from where his father had beaten him with a belt. His mother's blow was apparently the last straw; his small body simply couldn't take any more abuse.

Annie and her other brother, Tim, then 2 months old, were taken from the home and placed in foster care. (Because abuse and neglect cases are confidential, the names of the surviving children have been changed.)

No criminal charges were filed against the parents. Instead, the case was referred to Family Court.

That was four "long, agonizing" years ago, relatives say. And it's not over yet.

In the beginning of the case, which has been profiled here before, there were misguided attempts to reunify the family, but the parents continually failed to abide by the stipulations (getting off drugs, staying employed and finding permanent housing). The state sought to terminate the parents' rights, freeing Annie and Tim for adoption by their foster family or a concerned relative.

Then, in March 2000, a judge ruled that the father had abused Adrian but the mother was responsible for his death. Although the ruling carried no penalties, relatives thought it would bring closure to the case. But they were stunned to learn that only the father's rights were terminated. The mother, they say, struck a "deal" in which she voluntarily relinquished her rights to Tim, now 4, to his foster parents, but wanted her mother, who lives out of state, to have guardianship of Annie, now 7.

The problem, relatives say, is that the mother lives near the grandmother and would have an influence on Annie's daily life. Another troubling factor is that the grandmother had testified in court that she knew nothing of the domestic violence or child abuse that was a part of her daughter's and grandchildren's life. Other relatives say it was no secret. They had called hotlines several times to report incidents.

If these concerns aren't enough to raise a red flag, Annie allegedly has told a therapist and others that she is afraid to go with her grandmother because her mother will be there. Remembering the day that Adrian died, Annie fears her mother will kill her, too. Because of those fears, relatives say, Annie began acting out and has been in a therapeutic care home -- away from her brother, the foster family and concerned paternal relatives with whom she had been close.

Others believe Annie was "coached" to say she's afraid. They say Annie has formed a loving bond with her grandmother and that her mother will not be in the picture.

A Family Court hearing is scheduled for later this month to determine if Annie's fears are real and whether she will be placed with her grandmother. Relatives say the mother can come back at any time and "reclaim" Annie because her rights were not terminated.

The foster parents and relatives have been baffled, stunned and angry at the developments (or lack of) throughout this drawn-out case.

Imagine what Annie is feeling.

Hopefully that will be the main consideration in deciding where Annie will live.