Suspected Child Abuse

[honeybeets23]

My Ex Husband has custody of our two kids ages 6 and 5 now. He got remarried in 2013. Last year my daughter (was 4 years old) brought to my attention over the phone, while at my sisters house the night before my father's funeral that her new step mom was touching her inappropriately. I asked her how and she got pretty detailed with what she was telling me. But, she didn't seem to be exaggerating at all. I recorded her over the phone telling me what happened. After I got off the phone with her I went to my sisters house. I let my daughter bring me up to the room where she plays with her toys. And asked her again and recorded it. She told me the exact same story. After my father's funeral I contacted their father and told him what our daughter was saying. That night we took her to our local hospital to be evaluated. Nothing was found. CPS and the Police Department got involved. My daughter told CPS everything she had disclosed with me. The Detective assigned to the case gave her step mother a polygraph test. And interviewed her. Detective told me the step mother was crying and was scared because she claimed she didn't do anything. However, the case was dropped because, she passed the polygraph. Now, it's almost been a year since that incident. Since then the father and step mother took our son out of public school and the step mother is now home schooling both my children. They are limited to the people they have contact with. Also, I have taken the father back to court to regain custody of them and this is another major part of why I want them back is the fear that other things are going on. But, no one knows because, my children show signs of fear of their step mother during my visits. Now that we are going back to court they are trying to take my visits away from me because, the courts found adequate cause to change our parenting plan. Now my BIG question is will a judge even look at the allegations my daughter made towards the step mother? Because, it is NOT a minor situation. It's a SERIOUS accusation for a four year old to make when she has NEVER been exposed to that sort of thing before. If anyone knows what I can do or any advice if a judge will take this into consideration I would greatly appreciate the feedback.

[RockRose]

honeybeets,  you are in a very very difficult position.

It's exceptionally rare for a stepmother to sexually molest a stepchild,  in the complete absence of other abuses.  Especially if the stepmother is otherwise a socially well-adjusted member of society and behaves "normally".  

Step mothers who molest usually do it as a large pattern of physical and emotional abuse,  food withholding,  locking in cages or closets,  forced exercise,  etc.

It's a concern that the children won't be in public school anymore - I really hate it when abuse is alleged and then the parents take their kids out of school where there are so many eyes keeping careful watch on the kids.  

So when you go to court,  here's what the judge will see:

- you're accusing the stepmom of something that's very very rare
- the stepmom has been interviewed and investigated and the allegations have been determined to be "unfounded"
- you have some kind of issue that is making it possible for them to try to remove your visitation completely

You need a CASA volunteer here - to advocate for the best interests of your children,  and cut to the core of what's going on here.  

Can you get one?

[Life360_Dave]

Hi, im of the opinion that the judge will not take into consideration the allegations as were found to have no merit by the detectives. But this is just my lay persons opinion.