Posted on 02/16/2002 11:11:40 AM PST by RGSpincich
Christines relinquish parental rights
The Associated Press
2/15/02 7:42 PM
ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) -- Brian and Ruth Christine -- the couple accused of kidnapping three of their daughters from state welfare workers last summer -- have agreed to relinquish their parental rights to the girls.
The Christines, who are being held at the Douglas County Jail, signed over their rights to Bethany, Lydia and Miriam in Roseburg on Thursday. The girls, all younger than 7, are expected to be adopted by Ruth's dairy farmer parents in England.
"They were sad little kids. Very sad, woebegone little kids," said Leeon Aller, Brian Christine's court-appointed attorney, referring to the parents. "They both bowed their heads and prayed for God's forgiveness after they signed the papers."
Aller said there is nothing to prevent the Christines from visiting their children in the future, unless, of course, they are incarcerated. If Brian is convicted of a felony, he would not be able to visit England. Ruth Christine, a British national, would be deported after serving time, if she is convicted of a felony, Aller said.
Aller said the settlement in the parental rights case does not affect the pending criminal cases.
Brian Christine allegedly kidnapped the girls from social workers at an Interstate 5 rest stop in Myrtle Point. Police say he pointed a gun at one of the social workers and took the girls.
The Christines and a third defendant, Matthew Gerawan, were arrested in Montana following the kidnapping. Gerawan is free on bail, but faces similar charges in the case for allegedly helping the couple.
The couple also faces criminal mistreatment charges stemming from 2000, when state social workers took the three girls into state custody because they had allegedly been starved as discipline. Brian Christine also faces an assault charge for allegedly hitting one of the girls for wetting the bed.
The Christines are also the parents of a 19-month-old child and an infant born last fall. They are expected to stay permanently with Brian's mother in Indiana.
Gee, don't you wonder what they were apologizing for?
Weren't they standing up for us all against Gubmint tiranny like Demidog, t-shirt and the gubmint haters kept telling us?
Such a sad end for heroes.
Tragic.
Thank God the authorities acted with common sense rather than take the advice of the ideological fanatics around here who defended these child torturing nutballs.
Some of their friends were active on the FR until they were banned. The logic they used (friends) make it understandable how these two got into so much trouble.
This would be the most positive thing that has happened in the Christine family since their arrival in Oregon.
Indeed.
According to Edgar Steele, he is still on the case. Care to donate to the Christine defense fund via Mr. Steele?
Let's home these children (NOT the Christines, described as "kids" by their lawyer--they were the parents of five children and that sure takes them out of kid-dom in my book) can have a good and safe life with their grandparents. They deserve it. As for the parents, I do expect a plea bargain--and will be given a sentence far too lenient for what they've done.
Did want the others to see this, albeit, posthumously.
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