It’s Beat the Clock time for Big Kid dumpers in Nebraska. DHHS reported this morning that last night a 5-year old boy was left at Immanuel Hospital in Omaha. No details yet. As I reported last night, two teens escaped from Methodist Hospital. DHHS confirmed this morning that the 14-year old boy is now is state custody, (one report says he didn’t run) but his 17-year old sister is still on the loose. No more details on that either. While I’m here, I may as well give this other update. Yesterday, the AP ran a story on the adoptive mother who attempted to “safe haven” her 18-year old daughter last week. It’s pretty grim: The Lincoln mother who dropped off her 18-year-old daughter said she was repeatedly turned down when she sought help from police, state social services authorities and the girl’s school. The woman said her daughter had been diagnosed with a mental illness when she was 12 and had deep psychological scars from childhood abuse and from being left alone with her dead biological mother for a week. The woman said she felt she had no choice but to leave her daughter at the hospital after a recent Continue Reading →

KPTM-TV just reported that an Omaha brother and sister escaped enroute to their local “safe haven.” No details but this so far: Methodist Hospital spokesman Ed Rider says a 14-year-old boy and 17-year-old girl disappeared as their mother was getting them from the car to the emergency room just after 3 p.m. Thursday. I’m surprised this hasn’t happened sooner. Speaking of which…remember the 14-year old adoptee (adopted by father’s mother at birth) from Council Bluffs, the first out-of-stater dropped into the waiting arms of the safe haven? (October 7). She was returned to Iowa with some sort of referral for help. Well, we know how that goes. Shortly afterward she ran away from high school. After being caught she was put into a home for “troubled youth” from which she promptly escaped and took her best friend with her. The girl called her mother/grandmother saying they were going to Houston to look for jobs. Today’s Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports they were picked up by city police. They’d never left town. I am trying to finish testimony for the special session of the Nebraska Unicam which starts tomorrow, or I would say more about this. The governor wants to roll Continue Reading →

I’ve split my latest entry in half. The two weren’t coming together as one and read awkward. The second half will be posted later tonight KCCI-TV (DesMoines) and the Associated Press reports that last night a woman took her 18-year old adopted daughter to Lincoln’s BryanLGH in an attempt at “safe haven.” The adoptee is reported to have learning disabilities, is bi-polar, and refuses medication. From Assistant Police Chief Jim Peschong: “The adoptive mother says that the daughter refused to take some medication for some conditions… She won’t listen to her, can’t control her.” The Omaha World-Herald reports that the mother sought assistance from the state but “got nowhere.” DHHS, which has previously denied 18-year olds “safe haven protection” says it’s looking into the case. (see addenda below for update) So far, one other dumpee has been confirmed as adopted, 2 others reported (but not confirmed) as kinship adopted. I believe there are more. Previously, two attempts to use the law on 18-year olds–a do-it-yourself in Grand Island and a traditional dump at Immanuel MC in Omaha–have been denied by DHHS. 18-year olds are “too old” for “saving.” And it seems it’s not legal for somebody to “save” themselves from Continue Reading →

I knew they wouldn’t let us down! Nebraska DHHS reports that an 11-year old girl from Douglas County was left by her mother today at Bergan Mercy Hospital. No details. She is the 5th child this week to find a new home at a Nebraska hospital. Only one more to go and we’ll hit 30! The weekend, with its leisure time activities, usually marks an upturn in dumps. Hey! let’s take a drive in the country! UPDATES:Nebraska and Indiana officials spent the day discussing the “best options” for the 8-year old boy left at Bergan Mercy yesterday. Late afternoon they announced that the boy will be returned to Indiana and placed in the custody of The Indiana Department of Children’s Services while the investigation continues. And remember the poor rejected adoptee from Michigan? The Detroit Free Press reports that his adoptive father, Nathaniel Martin, (earlier referred to as Terrence) has regained custody of his two biological children, but the adopted siblings remain in foster care. Their adoptive mother, Teri Martin, who dumped her son and claimed she was forced to adopt him seven years ago so she could adopt his brother, is not allowed in the couple’s Southfield, Michigan home Continue Reading →

Nebraska DHHS announces that earlier today an 8-year old boy from Wabash, County, Indiana was handed into the beneficient hands of the State of Nebraska at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha. No details have been released. Outside of the anomalous Staton case, this is the youngest child dropped off in Nebraska. He is the 28th dumpee since the law went into effect on July 16, and the fourth this week. (There was also an attempted dro-off of an 18-year old on November 3 at Immanuel MC). For some reason this case upsets me more than the routine upset of each case. Eight years old. When I was that age I was planning my career as an Egyptologist (obviously, that didn’t work out), reading Miss Pickrel books, and playing one of the Cookie Children in Hansel & Gretel. Even if this child is mentally ill, how must he feel?I’m sick.And just when you think it can’t get any worse:In other news, Douglas County Juvenile Court Judge Vernon Daniels has ordered two 15-year old girls left at Omaha hospitals on October 28 to remain in state custody pending further investigation. The cases are unrelated. I don’ even know what to comment on Continue Reading →