Father Says CPS Has Removed Terry Smith's Sister From Home
Terry Smith Sr., father of the boy who was found murdered in the back yard of his home in Menifee, told Menifee 24/7 in an exclusive intervi...
http://www.menifee247.com/2013/07/father-says-cps-has-removed-terry-smiths-sister-from-home.html
Terry Smith Sr., father of the boy who was found murdered in the back yard of his home in Menifee, told Menifee 24/7 in an exclusive interview that the Department of Child Protective Services today removed Terry Smith Jr's half sister from the home.
Smith said he received a call from a CPS case worker saying the 14-year-old girl was removed from the home today. Smith said he is not the child's biological father but he is listed on the birth certificate and raised the girl from birth. He did not say where the girl is at this time.
Laurel Stackhouse, CPS case worker in California, referred Menifee 24/7 to her supervisor, Edward Melendez. He said he could not confirm or deny Smith's claims. Calls placed to Melendez's supervisor have not been returned.
The girl was the only known remaining juvenile in the household. Skylor Atilano, 16 and the half brother of Terry Smith Jr., was arrested on suspicion of murder and is in police custody awaiting a Sept. 17 detention hearing. The determination whether he will be charged as an adult or juvenile has not yet been made.
Smith said he received a call from a CPS case worker saying the 14-year-old girl was removed from the home today. Smith said he is not the child's biological father but he is listed on the birth certificate and raised the girl from birth. He did not say where the girl is at this time.
Laurel Stackhouse, CPS case worker in California, referred Menifee 24/7 to her supervisor, Edward Melendez. He said he could not confirm or deny Smith's claims. Calls placed to Melendez's supervisor have not been returned.
The girl was the only known remaining juvenile in the household. Skylor Atilano, 16 and the half brother of Terry Smith Jr., was arrested on suspicion of murder and is in police custody awaiting a Sept. 17 detention hearing. The determination whether he will be charged as an adult or juvenile has not yet been made.
YAY!! I hope CPS provides therapy for her, too!!
ReplyDeleteNow I wonder how long it's going to take for the mother to be taken into custody for obstruction?
ReplyDeleteFinally, something positive is coming out of this!!
ReplyDeleteyay, but where were they before all of this happened? I'm surprised it took them this long :(
ReplyDeleteLet's hope is soon now that they got her out.
ReplyDeleteI wish that things wouldn't of gotten to this KNOW when it needed to happen a month ago. I hope things get better for her.
ReplyDeleteI'm so relieved to hear this news, sadly its to little, to late. Had CPS checked in earlier, Terry might still be alive and all 3 children might have received the much needed help they all so desperately needed. The "mother" certainly is a major contributor to the disfunction of that family. My heart goes out to each of the children
ReplyDeleteTrue.
DeleteThis is also a good example of a missed opportunity by this community before this tragedy. It's good that CPS has stepped in now but they don't have the ability to do that unless someone alerts them to a bad situation. Did anyone in this community take that step? I heard that Terry told people around him that there was trouble at home, Skylor obviously had issues, it wasn't unknown. People are so afraid to be the one to step up and unfortunately that's when kids are left to this kind of abuse. If CPS was contacted then there should be a serious inquiry into what steps they took to intervene. It is too late for Terry but maybe it's a good opportunity for people to think twice when they see something that they know in their gut is wrong.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more. Stand up for something or you'll fall for anything!
DeleteThis poor girl is who I feel most sorry for in this situation (aside from terry of course). When the mother gets arrested (soon hopefully), this girl will have lost every immediate family member....little brother gone, older brother in prison, mom in prison, and no dad in the picture. TRAGIC ending for a 14 year old. Pray for her to come out of this normal.
ReplyDeleteWhy did it take so long?
ReplyDeleteNow they need to arrest the mom
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteI am waiting to hear the real reason his mom is withholding dental records...
ReplyDeleteSkylor, I feel like we failed you, if only things weren't so hectic at the time, and we'd let you move in. This might have never happen. We love you Skylor, and we know you loved Terry. Hugs & Prayers, we're behind you <3
ReplyDeleteShawna, I didn't like you from the start, and I was always so worried about those kids. I'll be in court, with full support for Skylor.
ReplyDeleteIf you were always so worried about those kids why didnt you ever try to get them help before this. It only takes one simple call to cps to get a family help and if your gut was telling you something was wrong you shoukd have acted on it. Next time I hope you do. I know its a hard call to make not knowing for certain if theres abuse in the house but its always best to do it anyways. If a family has nothing to hide then it should be quick and simple for them to go in talk to the kids and parents and evaluate the home.
DeleteI'm sorry, but that's not always true. I have made that "one simple call" before. CPS came out and the child was left there. It's not always as easy as one simple call, especially if it's not physical abuse/neglect.
DeleteGood for you, Chassidy. Something stinks in that house and it's coming from the mother. Why isn't she in jail, that's what I want to know!
DeleteI have to wonder as I read this, and all the comments, how many of you knew the family. How many actually knew what happened to Terry Jr. and how many knew the mother. Its sad all in itself. My heart breaks for the mother above all else. She lost two boys, then her daughter too. While everyone is quick to pass judgement that the mother had to have some kind of hand in it, you do realize that if the police thought that, she would be in custody now. She isn't though. In fact, I read somewhere she even passed a polygraph (lie detector test), and had a solid alibi. For those who claim that CPS should of been called sooner, ever think maybe they were, and they hadn't responded? I will agree, something sounds off. It could be because the mother has yet to comment, and the father is doing all the talking.
ReplyDeleteThank God they took her away. :)
ReplyDelete