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FLDS parents hit with court papers for pending custody battle
Deseret News ^ | 04/13/2008 | Ben Winslow

Posted on 04/13/2008 5:44:14 PM PDT by JRochelle

Legal notices are being published in the Eldorado hometown paper, addressed to "all unknown parents, and any person claiming to be a parent of, any one or more of the children removed from the YFZ Ranch." The notices, filed by attorneys for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, announces the petitions for hundreds of children taken from the Fundamentalist LDS Church's Texas ranch.

"You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty (20) days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you."

The legal notices are being published in the Eldorado Success, the town's weekly newspaper, in anticipation of Thursday's court hearing that will determine whether the children will be placed in foster care or returned to their parents. Newspaper publication is another method of serving court papers when someone cannot be located to be personally served.

The notices name all of the children that have been identified by Texas child welfare workers.

"Baby girl Jessop, a child." "Freddie, a child." "Naomi, a child." Some of them are simply listed as "in the interest of 330 children from the YFZ Ranch" or "in the interest of 16 children from the YFZ Ranch." A separate notice published in the newspaper, names the parents they know of and lists their birth dates. It's a long list of Barlows, Allreds, Jessops, Johnsons, Mussers, Nielsens, Steeds, and Jeffs, etc.

Each lawsuit requests emergency protection of a child.

"The Court has authority in this suit to render any order, judgment or decree in the children's interest that will be binding on you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, a determination of maternity for each child, a determination of paternity for each child, and appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to each child's adoption," the notice reads.

The upcoming custody battle for the FLDS children could be massive.

Already, Texas officials have said it is the biggest child welfare case they have ever had to deal with. Each of the children must have an attorney. More than a hundred Texas family law attorneys have already been drafted or volunteered to help out.

Many with experience dealing with the FLDS Church and its unique culture have been offering assistance to Texas authorities.

"We're doing education on how to work with the culture," said Shannon Price with the Diversity Foundation, which helps children leaving the polygamous communities.

Price said she has encouraged child welfare workers to be as respectful of the FLDS people as much as possible.

"Have a midwife come in to deal with medical issues. If they need to wash out their garments, don't observe it because they're sacred. If they want to have a Sunday meeting, let them do it in private," she advised.

Price said she believes Texas authorities are sincere in not focusing on polygamy, but instead on purported child abuse.

"It's kind of a no-win situation for the government in many ways. Anything the government does, they put their toe on the property and it's vilifying the community," she told the Deseret News in a recent interview. "The only people I've heard say you're prosecuting polygamy is from polygamous families."

In a statement posted Friday on its Web site, Texas child protective services said no children will be placed in foster care until after Thursday's hearing.

"A number of state agencies are working together to make all the children as comfortable as possible, and to meet all their physical, medical and psychology needs while they are in San Angelo," the statement said.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News
KEYWORDS: cultchildren; flds; jeffs; polygamy; sect
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1 posted on 04/13/2008 5:44:15 PM PDT by JRochelle
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To: colorcountry; Pan_Yans Wife; MHGinTN; Colofornian; Elsie; FastCoyote; Osage Orange; Greg F; ...

Ping to the polygamy show...


2 posted on 04/13/2008 5:45:22 PM PDT by JRochelle (Obama on small town America: bitter, cling to guns or religion, anti-immigrant people.)
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To: JRochelle

Does anyone know the breakdown of the sexes yet for the children?


3 posted on 04/13/2008 5:51:14 PM PDT by ansel12 (This cult stuff is grossing me out.)
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To: JRochelle
There are some who think raising a child around forced marriage and polygamy is a good thing.

I ain't one of 'em.

4 posted on 04/13/2008 5:51:55 PM PDT by humblegunner
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To: JRochelle

Can a legal notice be filed for an ‘unknown parent?’


5 posted on 04/13/2008 5:53:30 PM PDT by Blogger (His love, not mine, the resting place, His truth, not mine, the tie.- Horatius Bonar)
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To: ansel12
Does anyone know the breakdown of the sexes yet for the children?

Both male & female.

6 posted on 04/13/2008 5:55:14 PM PDT by humblegunner
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To: JRochelle
Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic
7 posted on 04/13/2008 5:55:48 PM PDT by 1COUNTER-MORTER-68 (THROWING ANOTHER BULLET-RIDDLED TV IN THE PILE OUT BACK~~~~~)
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To: ansel12

Here is a link to the possible parents and children.

Jessop, Sarah January 13, 1992, was the youngest parent I saw, she would be 16.

What is stunning is that there are 130+ women there and only about 36 gave their date of birth.

http://www.myeldorado.net/Pages/LegalNotices.html


8 posted on 04/13/2008 5:56:20 PM PDT by JRochelle (Obama on small town America: bitter, cling to guns or religion, anti-immigrant people.)
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To: JRochelle

A practical use of DNA testing — to determine exactly the parents of these children.

There are such things as parental rights — and with all of this multiple marriage stuff — it should be important to know the parents.

And the children most certainly need to know the names of their parents, even if they are raised the rest of their childhool by foster parents.

Just my 2 cents.


9 posted on 04/13/2008 5:58:23 PM PDT by i_dont_chat (Your choice if you take offense.)
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To: 1COUNTER-MORTER-68

TO THE FOLLOWING PERSONS, WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO THE PETITIONER AS ALLEGED PARENTS OF ONE OR MORE OF THE CHILDREN REMOVED FROM THE YFZ RANCH, ELDORADO, SCHLEICHER COUNTY, TEXAS, BETWEEN APRIL 4, 2008, AND MIDNIGHT ON APRIL 7, 2008, RESPONDENT(S):

Name of Alleged Parent & Date of Birth
Allred, Becky November 2, 1987
Allred, Carol Ann Unknown
Allred, Mary December 21, 1976
Allred, Merilyn September 22, 1974
Allred, Richard Unknown
Allread, Mary Unknown
Allread, Helen Unknown
Barlow, Adeline Unknown
Barlow, Amy August 28, 1978
Barlow, Areta Unknown
Barlow, Areta Kathleen Unknown
Barlow, Connie Richelle Unknown
Barlow, D.R. Unknown
Barlow, Dale November 6, 1957
Barlow, Dan Unknown
Barlow, Dianabell Unknown
Barlow, Donald Robert July 28, 1956
Barlow, Dora Mae May 1, 1964
Barlow, Faye Unknown
Barlow, Kayetta Unknown
Barlow, Martha Joy Unknown
Barlow, Nephi May 14, 1983
Barlow, Pauline February 11, 1972
Barlow, Richard Unknown
Barlow, Richard Jessop November 1, 1967
Barlow, Rosanna August 9, 1981
Barlow, Sarah Unknown
Barlow, Susan Unknown
Bradshaw, Louisa Unknown
Cox, Evelyn Unknown
Darger, Joy Unknown
Dockstader, James Unknown
Dockstader, Nancy Unknown
Draper, Sarah Unknown
Dutson, Keith Unknown
Dutson, Keith Jr. December 4, 1984
Dutson, Janice November 4, 1985
Dutson, Martha Emack Unknown
Dutson, Natalie Jessop September 26, 1989
Dutson, Rebecca August 9, 1990
Emak, Michael George Unknown
Harker, Lenora October 15, 1972
Harker, Phyllis Jessop Unknown
Harker, Sterling John Unknown
Hill, Sarah Unknown
Holm, Mary Ann Unknown
Jeffs, Abe Unknown
Jeffs, Abram Unknown
Jeffs, Annette Unknown
Jeffs, Dan Unknown
Jeffs, David Unknown
Jeffs, Ilene Unknown
Jeffs, Janet April 6, 1957
Jeffs, Leroy Unknown
Jeffs, Lyle Steed January 17, 1960
Jeffs, Madeline July 1, 1953
Jeffs, Madilin Unknown
Jeffs, Marylin Unknown
Jeffs, Merilyn Unknown
Jeffs, Nora January 18, 1968 (possible)
Jeffs, Rachel October 15, 1970
Jeffs, Ruth Edna November 12, 1973
Jeffs, Sally Unknown
Jeffs, Sandra Unknown
Jeffs, Sue Unknown
Jessop, Alice Unknown
Jessop, Barbara Unknown
Jessop, Barbara Joyce Unknown
Jessop, Brenda Unknown
Jessop, Carlene January 10, 1981
Jessop, Cathleen Unknown
Jessop, Don Unknown
Jessop, Edson Unknown
Jessop, Elizabeth Unknown
Jessop, Fredrick Unknown
Jessop, Jennetta, Unknown
a/k/a Jennetta Barlow
Jessop, Jim Unknown
Jessop, Joseph, Unknown
a/k/a Joseph Jessop, Jr.,
a/k/a Joseph Johnson
Jessop, Joseph Sr. Unknown
Jessop, Josephine, Unknown
a/k/a Josephine Anne Jessop
Jessop, Joy Unknown
Jessop, Leroy Unknown
Jessop, Lori Unknown
Jessop, Lydia November 25, 1985
Jessop, Marie Unknown
Jessup, Merril Unknown
Jessop, Mindy August 7, 1987
Jessop, Monica Sue Unknown
Jessop, Nathan Unknown
Jessop, Naomi Ruth Unknown
Jessop, Neola Unknown
Jessop, Paula Unknown
Jessop, Richard Unknown
Jessop, Sarah January 19, 1976
Jessop, Sarah January 13, 1992
Jessop, Sarah Cathleen March 27, 1990
Jessop, Sharon Jeffs March 1, 1978
Jessop, William Sunderland June 10, 1979
Jessops, Mary Unknown
Jessops, Pamela December 9, 1989
Johnson, Amy Unknown
Johnson, Charlotte Unknown
Johnson, Faith Ann April 26, 1985
Johnson, Frank Unknown
Johnson, Frank Tillon Unknown
Johnson, Jacob February 9, 1978
Johnson, Jacob Unknown
Johnson, Joseph Unknown
Johnson, Karen August 16 ,1973
Johnson, Lamar Unknown
Johnson, Lydia Unknown
Johnson, Nancy September 2, 1962
a/k/a Nancy Barlow Unknown
Johnson, Patricia Unknown
Johnson, Roleen December 6, 1987
Johnson, Russell January 7, 1972
Johnson, Sarah Elizabeth Unknown
Johnson, Sylvia Elizabeth Unknown
Keate, Allan May 12, 1952 (possible)
Keate, Linda August 4, 1982
Keate, Lorene Unknown
Keate, Marilyn January 7, 1990
Keate, Olrene Julia (approx. 22 years old)
Keate, Rachel July 25, 1989
Keate, Ruland Unknown
Lindsey, Fred Jr. October 9, 1982
Lyndsay, Fred Unknown
Lyndsay, Gladys Unknown
Musser, Amos Nielson Unknown
Musser, Linda Jeffs Unknown
Musser, Marie Unknown
Nielsen, Janet Jeffs Unknown
Nielsen, Lucille April 23, 1983
Nielsen, Vickie Unknown
Nielsen, Wendall Unknown
Nielsen, Wendell Unknown
Nielson, Janet Jeffs Unknown
Nielson, Wendell Unknown
Roback, Ron Unknown
Roundy, Lorraine June 28,1978
Steed, David Unknown
Steed, Fawn Unknown
Steed, Isaac Unknown
Steed, Joann Unknown
Steed, Joseph Unknown
Steed, Joseph Jessop Unknown
Steed, Kathleen Unknown
Steed, Kathleen April 30, 1968 (possible)
Steed, Kathleen Jessop Unknown
Steed, Lanora Unknown
Steed, Lenora Unknown
Steed, Leona Unknown
Steed, Leonna Unknown
Steed, Leroy Unknown
Steed, Leroy July 20, 1966
Steed, Leroy Johnson Unknown
Steed, Lori Unknown
Steed, Louanna Jessop Unknown
Steed, Louise Unknown
Steed, Mane Holm Unknown
Steed, Marie Unknown
Steed, Marie , Unknown
a/k/a Mane Holm Steed
Steed, Marilyn Unknown
Steed, Mindy Unknown
Steed, Rebecca Unknown
Steed, Sara Unknown
Steed, Tina July 30, 1987
Steed, Viola October 23, 1985
Steed, Vye Unknown
Wall, Lloyd Unknown
Williams, Margaret February 26, 1986
Young, Zavanda Unknown
Young, Zavanda November 7, 1964
Zitting, Zion Unknown
Zitting, Priscilla February 14, 1988

“STATE OF TEXAS

NOTICE TO RESPONDENT(S):

You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty (20) days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you.

“YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to appear and answer before the Honorable 51st Judicial District Court, Eldorado, Schleicher County, Texas, at the Courthouse in Eldorado, Schleicher County, Texas, at or before 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next after the expiration of twenty (20) days from the date of service of this citation, then and there to answer the Original Petitions of the TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, Petitioner, filed in said Court.


10 posted on 04/13/2008 6:03:19 PM PDT by JRochelle (Obama on small town America: bitter, cling to guns or religion, anti-immigrant people.)
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To: JRochelle

So that makes about 100 women who are refusing to give their birthdates.


11 posted on 04/13/2008 6:04:40 PM PDT by JRochelle (Obama on small town America: bitter, cling to guns or religion, anti-immigrant people.)
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To: JRochelle

There are many mothers with “unknown” birthdates...


12 posted on 04/13/2008 6:04:57 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: Blogger
Yes. It's called service by publication and it satisfies the requirement that a party be given notice of a hearing at which a substantial right may be terminated. In this case - the termination of parental rights is in play. Some TX statute prescribes the exact form of notice by publication, but in other states it's typically publication for 4 weeks, 1x/week, followed by a 30 day period for answer. This may be an emergency proceeding, and there my be shortened periods of publication and for answer under "emergency" circumstances.

One thing is clear - whatever county this is happening in within Texas will rue the day they issued building permits for the compound. Whatever they gained in property tax revenue will be eaten about 80x over by the costs of these proceedings.

13 posted on 04/13/2008 6:23:28 PM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: Wally_Kalbacken

I would be surprised they ever got building permits.


14 posted on 04/13/2008 6:26:03 PM PDT by JRochelle (Obama on small town America: bitter, cling to guns or religion, anti-immigrant people.)
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To: JRochelle

Can they use DNA to see who the real father is in these cases.?


15 posted on 04/13/2008 6:28:10 PM PDT by rovenstinez
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To: JRochelle
texas
16 posted on 04/13/2008 6:29:16 PM PDT by redreno
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To: JRochelle

WOW!!!~~~Now on FOX...


17 posted on 04/13/2008 6:32:48 PM PDT by 1COUNTER-MORTER-68 (THROWING ANOTHER BULLET-RIDDLED TV IN THE PILE OUT BACK~~~~~)
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To: Blogger
It is BECAUSEE the parents are unknown or undetermined (or there is evidence that the stated parentage of all or some of the children may be false) that this form of service by advertising becomes necessary.

In the jurisdiction where I live it is called "substitutional service" and is done pursuant to a court order when reasonable efforts to personally serve a child's parent have been unsuccessful or where such reasonable efforts would not be possible.

A "parent" is a necessary party to a child wselfare proceeding but it would not be in the best interest of a child alleged to be in need of protection to allow the parent to frustrate the proceeding by concealing his whereabouts or true identitny. Hence, the substitional service notifying all persons who would want to claim to be necessary or proper parties that they should come forward to assert their claim for status.

In a common law jurisdiction, as is most of the United States, the court is parens patrii and must act in the best interest of any child coming within its jurisdiction. Parental rights are important but the best interest of a child is paramount, superceding parental rights where a child is found to be in need of protection.

18 posted on 04/13/2008 6:33:25 PM PDT by Clive
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To: humblegunner

“Does anyone know the breakdown of the sexes yet for the children?”

“Both male & female. “


Good, I can sleep tonight.


19 posted on 04/13/2008 6:34:29 PM PDT by ansel12 (This cult stuff is grossing me out.)
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To: JRochelle

No sign of the original complaintant?

Somethings fishy here.

All this may very well be dismissed, and the agencies sued. That looks more likely every day.


20 posted on 04/13/2008 6:35:46 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
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