Dad who left 9 kids had series of woes (state's new safe haven law)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10443272

Published Friday September 26, 2008
Dad who left 9 kids had series of woes
BY LYNN SAFRANEK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The mother died Feb. 21, 2007.

Official cause of death: spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage.

That left her 10 children in the care of her 34-year-old husband, who had a history of unemployment, eviction notices and unpaid bills — and a psychologist's determination that he lacked common sense.

Wednesday evening, that father told an Omaha police officer he couldn't care for his kids anymore.

He left all but his 18-year-old daughter at Creighton University Medical Center, saying he wanted to exercise his right to the state's new safe haven law.


Todd Landry, Director of the Division of Children and Family Services with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, left, speaks at a news conference in Lincoln, Neb., Thursday, with other civic leaders behind him. Eleven children ranging in age from 1 to 17 were left at hospitals Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, under Nebraska's unique safe haven law, which allows caregivers to abandon not only infants but also teenagers without fear of prosecution. Nine of the children came from one family.


The children, ranging in age from 20 months to 17 years old, have been placed in foster care, for now, while the courts sort out what should be done with them.

They are not alone. Five children from five other families, including two cases from Wednesday, have now been left at hospitals since Sept. 13 by guardians who have resorted to using the law as an escape route from their troubles.

Most states use safe haven laws to protect unwanted infants. Nebraska, however, has no age limit on the children who can be dropped off by parents who say they want to terminate their parental rights.

State social services officials cautioned Thursday that leaving children at hospitals doesn't absolve parents of their responsibilities, however.

The case of the nine siblings — abandoned by their father less than two years after their mother's death — could be the most troubling.

FULL story at link.

[Sanity Claws]

1. The poor kids

They lost their mother and then their father abandons them. All alone in the world as children.
I feel for them and fear whether they will ever be able to trust anyone again.

[Realityhack]

12. True but he did something that may be much better than the alternative.

It did not sound like he could safely care for them.

[kestrel91316]

2. The man needs a vasectomy. Go ahead and flame me.

[FedUpWithIt All]

3. He is 34 and the oldest is 18. Most likely not all his. n/t

[Warpy]

4. 'Scuse me?

You try finding time for an affair with at least three kids in diapers and others jumping around screaming "WATCH ME MOM!"

[uppityperson]

6. Wrong direction. If he's 34, eldest 18, he made him when he was 15 yrs old.

Did he make his first child when he was 15 yrs old?

[Warpy]

9. You're accusing his dead wife of having the affair

and I refuted you by pointing out what it's like in chaotic multiple child households.

Those kids were his.

[dysfunctional press]

21. where did he accuse the wife of having an affair...?

my impression was that he was thinking that she already had kids when they married, since he was so focused on the age of the father.

[Warpy]

22. When he said all her kids weren't his.

Sheesh.

[dysfunctional press]

24. he was implying that she had kids when they married...

Sheesh is right. :eyes:

[uppityperson]

23. You are confusing posters. I said he would've been 15 and asked if he impregnated her @ 15.

Maybe she already had a kid when they got married. I said nothing about an affair. And you didn't point out to "me" what it's like in chaotic multiple child households. I was talking about ages, and thinking maybe the oldest wasn't his biologic offspring.

IF the 18 yr old was his, he was only 15 when the pregnancy happened. 34-19=15 (I added a yr for the pregnancy which is only 9 months and a bit so conceivably he was 16 when they conceived.)

ps. I'm a she.

[FedUpWithIt All]

19. I meant that he could have married and accepted her children as his own.

It was in response to a comment about how he needed a vasectomy as if he himself had fathered so many children.

Edited to add that i have since learned that he did father the children. But i never intended an accusation of cheating.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

7. The couple married at age 18 after their first daughter was born.By 2004, they had nine children

That is in the article at the link.

[Blue Diadem]

11. He was with his wife for 17 yrs before she died..the oldest was 16 then.

Childhood sweethearts apparently and having children very early.

[frylock]

5. just a tragic tale for all involved..

my heart goes out to this man and his children.

[tannybogus]

8. "and a psychologist's determination that he lacked common sense."

I didn't realize this was a recognized diagnosis.

[Gwendolyn]

10. He was last seen getting into a car w/ girlfriend and packed suitcase?

Looks like that's the latest update.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10443272

[Realityhack]

13. Sounds like he may have some mental issues.. We should be glad the children are safe. n/t

[malaise]

15. Clearly not all his fault

Psychological examinations of the parents found that the mother expressed "distorted thinking." She resisted finding a job, ignored eviction notices, didn't help her husband with the cooking and cleaning — but still wanted to have more children.

-------
That said he could have had a vasectomy.

[Realityhack]

25. Is that covered by whatever insurance he had?

Not trying to be a dick but some things sound a lot easier after the fact than in the situation.

It sounded to me like this guy might have his own mental issues that kept him from making better choices. I actually applaud the idea of dropping off the kids at a safe haven. If it were not for that decision I do not think the children would necessarily be safe right now. If the only guardian is willing to drop off such old children I can only assume that caring for them is beyond that persons capabilities.

[Blue Diadem]

14. WTF? and here I was feeling sorry for him too.

My heart breaks for the children. I hope at least they'll be able to stay in contact. Your article is the most telling of all I've seen. Those poor children should have been removed long ago from that home. How very sad.

[Gwendolyn]

20. Things are never as they seem at first glance...

Those kids are probably going to a better place. And the oldest girl seems to have really stepped up to the plate and persevered where the parental units were lagging. She'll do okay.

This story reminds me a little of that book "Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius."

[mrreowwr_kittty]

16. You know, I'm glad he took advantage of the safe haven law.

I can see where having no age limit opens the possibility for abuse of the law but in this case it's probably the best thing that could have happened.

Those poor kids. :cry:

[JI7]

17. they should never have had so many kids

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

18. I say we get rid of these safe haven laws so this can never happen again.

I say let nature take its course.

[flstci]

26. Absolutely tragic.

People like this need help. I couldn't imagine dumping my kids off and seeing them in the mirror as I drove away. There are serious mental issues at play here no doubt.