Judge orders genetic testing of polygamist-sect children

[Maddy McCall]

SAN ANGELO, Texas—A chaotic two-day hearing ended with dropped heads and silence when a judge ordered that the 416 children taken from a ranch run by a polygamous sect will stay in state custody for the time being.

State District Judge Barbara Walther heard 21 hours of testimony over two days before ruling Friday that the children would be kept in custody while the state continues to investigate allegations of abuse stemming from the teachings of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

"This is but the beginning," Walther said.

She also ordered genetic testing to sort out family relationships that have confounded welfare authorities.

A mobile genetic lab will take samples Monday at the main shelter where children are being kept; parents will be able to submit samples Tuesday in Eldorado, closer to the ranch.


http://www.mercurynews.com/natbreakingnews/ci_8982512

[Hubert Flottz]

1. I think it's a great idea!

I pity these kids, but at least they are safe now.

[Maddy McCall]

2. I do, too.

It's the only way they'll identify which children belong to which parents. It's also the only way they'll find the infant who was produced by the molestation of the young girl by the 50-year-old man. And find the molestation victim.

[Hubert Flottz]

3. It is a heartbreaking thing to watch when you think about the kids

but this kind of thing NEEDS TO STOP right here, right now. Maybe this will finally open this country's eyes.

What happens to a kids rights after they are born? Every child should have a "CHOICE" about the way they will live their lives. These children are born into a horror that they are programmed to accept as the "RIGHT WAY TO LIVE". Used, abused and exploited to the max, like cattle.

Hard to believe that these things can be going on in a "Beacon Of Freedom And Liberty" like we live in.

[LisaL]

8. Police have a person of interest on who this caller actually was.

Only she got no infant.
http://fox21news.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=123517

[Maddy McCall]

4. Would like to hear more discussion of this topic...

if anyone's interested.

[CatWoman]

5. Hi Maddy

:hi:

If I may :)

I, too, applaud the state's decision to go forward with the testing.

I know it was suggested the first day in court, only to be met with objections from the sect's lawyers.

The women and these girls have been refusing to come clean (so I've read) about who
's child is who's, etc. They won't give last names. It's no telling what else they are lying about.

Never thought I'd say this, but I applaud Texas' efforts to get to the bottom of this.

[Maddy McCall]

19. Yes...you and I see this exactly the same way.

:hi:

[CatWoman]

20. Now, about that frog................

:rofl:

[Maddy McCall]

23. Don't diss my frog.

:P

:D

[Zynx]

6. I think that's fair.

It seems to be an important issue to figure out who belongs to who.

[Midlodemocrat]

7. I was hoping they would do this.

That way, the innuendo can be put to rest and these children will be able to move forward with their lives.

I think this is just heartbreaking.

[iamthebandfanman]

9. think theyll discover inbreeding?

and isnt that another law broken if so ?

[janx]

12. Here:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,635182923,00.html

[fed_up_mother]

10. Remember, none of the adults have to submit to the test

Since this isn't a criminal investigation (at least, not yet), these adults can't be compelled to submit. However, they would lose their children, which, frankly, would be just fine by me. If the women are going to "stand by their man," who knows what else they will do or allow.

The male/female ratio at this compound is extremely skewed because children under six were plucked from the other FLDS compounds (including Bountiful in British Columbia) to create this super "Zion" in Texas. It's a breeding ground for future wives. Pure race and all that. The normal mother/child bond has already been destroyed for most of these children, so who knows how many don't have normal bonds, anyway.

[LisaL]

11. I am pretty sure you are right.

I don't think adults can be forced to submit to DNA test without a court order or unless they volunteer.
I wonder though what the laws are about DNA testing of children.

[CatWoman]

13. but if the adults don't consent

how will the authorities figure out who belongs to whom?

don't they need an adult sample to refer to?

[LisaL]

15. I guess they won't.

You definetly need a sample from the parent to figure out if it's the biological offspring of the parent.

[The Straight Story]

14. I said it elsewhere and I will say it again (even if I get flamed)

This all reminds me of the Europeans coming here and telling the Indians they were savages for not living in a civilized way.

I am all for saving those kids (and their moms) from being trapped in a crappy situation. But where do we draw the line?

[CatWoman]

16. I hope that line is drawn where the law is met with decency and respect

I don't think your example is adequate here.

The Europeans were all about conquering and destruction.

The authorities in Texas are trying to promote the law and enforce the safety of those minor being forced into premature marriage and motherhood.

[janx]

17. I won't flame you--

but I think you're posting a false analogy. These people were breaking the law. That's why we have laws in the first place, to draw the lines. If people break them, they have to be held accountable.

:shrug:

[CatWoman]

18. Janx

I love your puppy :)

this will make you smile: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/04/19/joaquin.puppy.lost.at.sea.khon

[janx]

22. Thanks for the link!

Yeah, he's pretty cool. We're getting ready to go hit a trail in the mtns!

[LisaL]

21. How about Russians taking children from their

parents in Chukotka and placing them in boarding schools?
Russians really did try to change these people' way of life.
No one sees any parallels here?
What about aboriginal children in Australia being removed?