Posted on 09/25/2008 11:14:33 AM PDT by Pinkbell
OMAHA, Neb. - Nine children were left at a hospital by their father late Wednesday under the state's new safe haven law, a move officials say illustrates the problems many feared when the rule went into effect.
The father, who was not identified, left the children aged 1 to 17 at Creighton University Medical Center's emergency room.
The law, which went into effect in July, allows caregivers to abandon children at any state-licensed hospital without fear of prosecution. It was initially intended to protect infants — like similar laws in other states — but was amended to include children and teenagers.
At least four children between the ages of 11 and 15 have been abandoned in Nebraska by parents since the law took effect.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Imagine how the kids old enough to understand felt! Their dad decided he didn't want them anymore and dropped them all off at the hospital.
Yes, but much better than killing them.
ditto
For sure it’s better than killing them, but still damnz that’s harsh. I can not imagine how you live with yourself after bailing on all your kids like that. It would eat me alive.
This sounds like a great way for a non-custodial parent to avoid child support. Just drop your kid off at the emergency room after your weekend visitation.(sarcasm tag implied)
I agree it’s terrible, but if there’s no Mom, and Dad is some addict, they’re better off without. I expect we’ll find out more about the circumstances pretty soon. Prayers for all the kids.
I’m sure the older kids were either glad to be out of his custody or understand they could live a better life on the taxpayers dollar this way.
"Progressives" are nothing if not resourceful and innovative...
Oh how utterly horrible. I cannot fathom the sting of betrayal so deep. I can only pray earnestly that their hearts will be touched by the Divine Healer.
Had a client who was 1 of 10+ children in a Midwest state. When he was 16 his mother unexpectly died. They did not see their father again after the funeral. Older kids raised the younger ones. Never heard from their father - who knows - may have committed suicide.
They should have offered him a free castration. Using dull hedge clippers.
Does this law relieve a parent of all responsibilities?
Could this be used as a ploy by a parent who doesn’t want to pay child support?
I'm guessing that you don't have seven kids, with the certain knowledge that the our misguided laws will force the rest of us to raise them...
The law allows you to avoid abuse and neglect charges. It does not release you from financial support.
You’d quickly find yourself still paying suport, but with NO visitation rights.
I expect the motivation is to fast track their kids into the system while they disappear into the maelstrom of their drug/alcohol problems. This might even advantage you legally should you later attempt to regain custody after rehab because you voluntarily surrendered your children rather than had them taken from you.
maybe the father wasnt able to care for the children. maybe he is suffering greatly. pray for him and the children
Is there an age limit on this? Does 29 qualify?
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I heard this guy speak about a dozen years ago. It was heart rending:
Being the youngest of a very large family I especially identify.
I am not going to sit here and condemn this man without knowing any of the reasons he made this move.
We do not know the circumstances of this and the fact is leaving them at an emergency room, which the law allows for, is much better then leaving then to fend for themselves or what so many mothers and fathers have done, killed their children.
Yes, it could be that he’s the worst person in the world, or he could be facing circumstances that he could not keep his kids. I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt, leaving them at a hospital assures they will be taken care of.
I kinda figured they had already thought of that. But, I can already guess that the state will not force parents to financially support the kids in a situation where no child support was ordered prior to the emergency room abandonment.
or a hammer and a rock.
I pray these kids don’t get warehoused. That’s the other path to destruction for them.
I am not sure if he’d be liable for support. I think the kids become wards of the state.
Not knowing his situation, I’ll say it may have been reprehensible or it may have been the most responsible thing he’s ever done.
At least the kids are together.
This is so sad. I can’t imagine.
Had he not had a safe place to leave them, it could have been much worse. You don’t know what was going on so without more info this man apparently did the best thing he could do.
Ditto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m with you. We have no idea what he’s going through. At least he left them somewhere safe.
“...or a hammer and a rock....”
Reminds me of that old joke about the guy castrating some type of animals by slamming two bricks together. When asked “Doesn’t that hurt?”, he replied, “Only if you get your thumbs caught between the bricks.”
“It would eat me alive.”
Maybe he’s got not much left to be eaten. Better this way than much of any other, IMHO.
I’ve know several parents that ended up paying child support to the state for unruly teens that end up in foster care.
One had removed their permission for the 16 yr old son to have a driver’s license because of beer cans the mom found in his truck. This pissed off the son so much he called Child Protective Services to complain of mental abuse.
Mom quickly signed him over for 90 days to foster care, wrote them a check every month and said it was cheaper than groceries and well worth not listening to his teenage bellyaching. She kept the DL revoked for a full six months, too.
He was begging to come home in less than a week,LOL! He did grow up to become a model citizen and business owner as well as doing a 4 year stint in the Army. He still doesn’t cross his mommy though!
Ping.
Could it be that there was no place for the father and kids, except living on the street?
At least the children will be cared for.
Did he ever find out what happened to his mother? Did he ever see her or hear from her ever again?
snipped.......
OMAHA, Neb. — The mother of nine kids left at a Nebraska hospital emergency room died from a brain aneurysm 17 months ago, days after delivering the youngest child, said the father.
Local station KETV reported that state officials said Gary Staton dropped off his kids at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
“I was with her for 17 years, and then she was gone. What was I going to do?” Staton said. “We raised them together. I didn’t think I could do it alone. I fell apart. I couldn’t take care of them.”
Staton said he was overwhelmed by his family responsibilities and had to quit his job. He said he couldn’t pay the rent or utilities.
continued..........
More information on the family.
OMAHA, Neb. — An out-of-work widower who abandoned nine of his children at a hospital under Nebraska’s new safe haven law said he was overwhelmed without his wife and just “fell apart.”
“I hope they know I love them,” Gary Staton told KETV. “I hope their future is better without me around them.”
The unique law allows caregivers to abandon babies and teenagers alike at hospitals without fear of prosecution. Originally intended to protect infants, it was expanded in a legislative compromise to protect any “child.” Some have interpreted that to mean anyone under 19.
Staton anonymously left the five boys and four girls — ages 1 to 17 — at Creighton University Medical Center’s emergency room on Wednesday night. He has a 10th child, a daughter who is 18 and was not dropped off.
A number of relatives have volunteered to take the siblings, said Kathie Osterman, a spokeswoman for the state department Health and Human Services.
Staff members were doing required background checks Friday in hopes of placing the children in the next few days, she said.
Staton said his wife died early last year, shortly after delivering their youngest child. He said he quit his job because of his family responsibilities but couldn’t pay rent or utilities or take care of his kids.
Related
Stories
Law Allowing Parents to Abandon Kids Under 18 to Be Revised
11 Children, Including Family of 9, Abandoned
Nebraska Safe-Haven Law Permits Parents to Abandon Teens
“I was with her for 17 years, and then she was gone,” he said of his late wife. “What was I going to do? We raised them together. I didn’t think I could do it alone. I fell apart. I couldn’t take care of them.”
Staton said he surrendered them so they would be safe.
A call Friday to a number listed for Staton went unanswered.
A 2007 interview with Staton’s oldest daughter in Omaha North High School’s student newspaper said she shouldered some of the parenting duties at home. Despite helping to feed her siblings, check their homework and put them to bed, the teen managed to graduate a year early.
Once a child is abandoned under the safe haven law, the courts become involved. Parental rights don’t end automatically, but parents who change their minds about abandonment may find it difficult to regain custody.
At least 16 children have been abandoned since the law took effect in July.
Hospitals call police when a child is left, and officers will usually place a child in protective custody. Then the county attorney determines whether a child should be allowed to return home and makes a recommendation to a judge.
Now that teenagers are being abandoned, Gov. Dave Heineman, who signed the law, and some other former supporters are saying changes are needed. The Legislature reconvenes in January.
Thank you for the update.
That’s so sad. I hope family members rally round the family and help them get back on their feet.
Thanks for the updated context. I deeply empathize with his lose, and as a husband/father can barely imagine the level of despair. I wish I had something more constructive to say beyond I wish these things didn’t happen. I have prayed for these kids, and I will pray again tonight.
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