They were thrown in with a lot of transient people in their lives before us. I don't care what the people of Arkansas think about me. SCOTUS Nom 00:00. The extralegal practice is highly controversial a monstrous act, according to adoption advocate John M. Simmons. The girls' new adopted mother, who asked not to be named, told 20/20, "I want people to know who they really are, 'cause who they really are is fun and sweet and sensitive and strong. Casting out #demons: why Justin Harris got rid of kids he applied pressure to adopt http://t.co/UuTjiG5FsI pic.twitter.com/WGCVUDi0l6. First, the children. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. For the most part, Harris peers in the legislature are keeping quiet about the controversy, but the public at large is paying attention to the story. 'Rep. While some individuals from West Fork had nothing but harsh words for the Harrises, both Chelsey Goldsborough and the source close to the Harrises said they took no joy in speaking out against the couple. But what of Jeannette, the oldest daughter and the first to be taken in by the Harrises, who the lawmaker said sometimes spent about eight hours every day screaming and in a rage and threatened violence upon his sons? Asa Hutchinson has ordered a review of the agencys practices regarding adoption. and Mrs. Harris have suffered a severe injustice. Despite the legal evidence, Harris at first refuse to confirm the link, then quoted a passage from the Bible. An Arkansas politician claims he gave away his two adopted daughters, aged three and six, to a rapist because they were threatening to kill his family, and had already crushed a family pet to death. Young then became involved with a man who cooked and sold methamphetamine; a fire started by his meth lab provoked a police investigation that sent that man, too, to prison. I knew how foster homes are some are good, some not. And then, she found the Harrises. On March 24, three weeks after the news first broke that state Rep. Justin Harris (R-West Fork) and his wife, Marsha, gave their two adopted daughters in 2013 to a family where one of them was later sexually assaulted, Rep. Harris returned to Twitter. All I wanted to do was to make sure my girls were safe and in a good home, you know? I was shocked they seemed to have that mentality that they could fix these girls in a short amount of time and have a big happy family.. Following the publication of the story, he and his wife, who have three biological sons, released a statement through their lawyer. Justin Harris. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. The Harts said that a local team working on the adoption including themselves, [Department of Health Services]caseworkers, adoption specialists, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and therapists from Ozark Guidance, a mental health provider made the Harrises fully aware of the girls history of neglect and sexual abuse and cautioned them that they were unprepared to handle children from such a background, especially considering their home included young boys. The idea that someone could use the foster care system to treat their adopted children like basketballs, tossing them from family to family is horrible. So in early 2011. when a mother of three reached out to the devout couple about adopting her three young daughters who were about to be permanently taken away by DHS, the family decided they wanted to make these siblings members of their family. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Former Arkansas State Rep. Justin Harris and his wife, Marsha, had always been eager to expand their family of three young sons. Harris also placed some of the blame on officials in the Arkansas Department of Human Services, whom he said misled them as to the abuse suffered by the girls. To allow a child with RAD to emotionally attach to her new caregivers requires a focus on positive reinforcement; any punishment must be kept gentle, Jensen said. (Count 1: Malice Murder. Benji Hardy is a contributing editor to the Arkansas Times and a reporter for the Arkansas Nonprofit News Network. Demons told her to not appreciate [her toys] and all that, so they took away all the toys and her colored clothes., Although she was disturbed by what she saw in the household to the extent that she reported it to DHS*, Goldsborough said she felt compelled to continue babysitting for the sake of the girls. And though the two youngest girls had never given the Harts any severe problems, they did not believe the younger sisters should be placed in a home with any young children because of the abuse they had suffered in the past. We were threatened with possible abandonment charges and potentially losing our own boys as well if we returned the girls to DHS custody. The former DHS employee confirmed this information as well. It really repulses us what he said. Though no one can say for sure, child advocates believe that rehoming is relatively rare in the United States. Justin Harris said they took Marys toys away from her at the suggestion of professionals from Ozark Guidance. See Photos. To at least keep them together, instead of DHS taking my rights, said Sarah Young, the biological mother of the three sisters, in an interview with the Times. We just always kept that in our mind, Harris said. 3. Its really upsetting.. Justin and Marsha Harris always evinced a keen, sincere interest in helping vulnerable kids. Justin Harris suggested he used his influence to obtain the three girls during the adoption hearing, according to Cheryl Hart. We got the little one first; Im pretty sure it was the first weekend of March 2011, Cheryl Hart said. At some point before he was arrested and after his firing, Francis and his wife gave the two girls away to another family, where they are now living. . Those depictions, Ostrov says, would be a tremendous lure.. Id take her to parks and she wouldnt run off or act all crazy or beat other children to death she was just another kid.. It was the only chance I had to keep my girls together. We've done everything.". An emotional Rep. Justin Harris (R-West Fork), his wife at his side, told reporters at a press conference last week that he sent his two adopted daughters to live with . The oldest sister was also adopted by a new family and is reportedly doing well. The girls were at one point placed in the care of methamphetamine users,according to the Times. Scandal: After it was revealed the couple gave away the girls, their lawyer released a statement saying, 'Rep. They were adopted, so theyre going to want TLC.. The neighbor kids liked her. They had adopted three international children of their own -- one whom had RAD -- and Eric Francis was also an early childhood educator. Related Artists. It was also this agency which Harris required to approve his controversial adoptions. Harris has said that he will support rehoming legislation as well, although if such a law had existed when he sent his daughters to live with Eric and Stacey Francis in October 2013, he would have been committing a felony. . The Harrises deny those claims. The Georgia Supreme Court has overturned the 2016 murder conviction of Justin Ross Harris, who had been found guilty of intentionally . 'There was anger and an instant behavior change.'. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? For about half of that time, from the end of 2012 to summer 2013, Goldsborough would babysit the Harris boys, Annie and, in an unconventional sense, Mary. View Justin Harris's business profile as Assistant Vice President & Regional Manager, Underwriting, Southeast Region at PURE Insurance. Equally as painful is being promised a family that you will never have to say goodbye to and then losing them. Justin Harris in Nevada. Discover Justin Harris's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. "She was cute. Accordingthe Arkansas Times,people who knew the family, including a former babysitter, say that the Harrises kept the 4-year-old locked in a room and monitored her with cameras because they believed she was possessed by demons. For this reason, parents that may be abusive or predatory can still manage to get custody of children through re-homing. They got therapy every day play therapy, occupational therapy, anger management.. And I just said, 'God, I can't do it anymore.' Goldsborough also alleged the family would keep the middle child isolated in her bedroom for long periods of time and blast Christian music at her doorway to help keep away demons. She was really cute," Cheryl Hart told "20/20.". Justin Harris and Dani LaMartina are guests on this episode of Dave Tate's Table Talk to discuss training, recovery, and diet in lifting. Francis is now serving 40 years in prison for his crimes against the six-year-old. and Mrs. Harris have suffered a severe injustice', Christian school: Pictured is Growing God's Kingdom Preschool, in which Rep. Harris owns, employed Francis for three months, It was also reported in the story that the Harris family 'continued to accept adoption subsidy money even after giving the children away.'. Eric Francis was later convicted of sexually abusing the 6-year-old and other girls and was given a 40-year prison sentence. Meanwhile, Sarah Young, the biological mother, had made a plan of her own. They think they are the fairy godmother and their charity is to save themselves a Cinderella.. Mary and Annie stayed in the Harris home for no more than 14 months (not two years, as Harris said at the Friday press conference). In November 2016, Justin Ross Harris was found guilty on all counts in his son's murder. ), DHS, Harris said, would not let him and Marsha adopt the girls privately that is, via the legal documents drafted by their attorney attempting to transfer custody from Young to their family. In weak moments a parent might feel like the child is less than, not deserving of compassion and basic dignities (albeit these thoughts happen mostly after much physical aggression, sexually acting out towards parents and kids, homicidal thoughts or statements, hours-long tantrums, etc.). They thrived in our home," said Cheryl Hart, who briefly cared for the children with her husband, Craig Hart. And also, theyre both small children for their age. After just four months in the Harris home, the oldest girl was placed in an inpatient facility and her adoption by the Harrises was never finalized. They followed the techniques in a book called 'When Love Is Not Enough: A Parent's Guide to Reactive Attachment Disorder,' by Nancy Thomas, who is a recognized expert on therapeutic parenting techniques, said Jennifer Wells, the couples attorney. Strong Sales, Networking, and Client Development skills with a Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA focused in Business Administration and Management, General from Lees-McRae College. When a child has repeated changes of caregivers, that child is learning that the world is not to be trusted and there is no one there for me at a critical time, and I might be bounced out at any moment, he said. We could reason with her and talk to her. Speaking anonymously, she expressed frustration with both adoptive parents and DHS. Well, Cecile said this, Cecile said that, Cheryl Hart said. Cecile Blucker knew where the kids were. The comments below have been moderated in advance. Without significant support and education, parents grow to dread and then hate their child. Period. So you think of the typical labels these kids get, like Oh, theyre a sociopath, but when I asked her what she was doing she said, I was trying to get him to kill me, so I could go to heaven. It wasnt about controlling an animal she was so sad about everything that happened to her, she really wanted to die.. According to a police report from Sgt. Harris denied those accusations. They think their family is different. She mistrusted DHS and disliked the foster system. The babysitter also alleged the Harrises would keep the younger sisters separated because they could supposedly telepathically speak to one another. Because Im about ready to lose them to DHS. . Response: 'I don't care what the people of Arkansas think about me. Describing the child's fits of rage, Marsha Harris told 20/20, "It never stopped. It is known as rehoming, a name that describes a practice more common in pet adoption. That was their number one issue.". In a good disclosure meeting, all the childs current and potential behaviors are discussed in depth and there is a clear road map of what it will take to make this adoption successful. 'Rep. In fact, because of the repeated sexual abuse she had suffered at such a young age, she had begun to exhibit predatory behaviors. The legislator adopted three girls and turned them over to a man who abused one of them. 'No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you,' he told the reporter. This "was not the type of home we were lookin' for it wasn't appropriate for these girls to be in a home with three boys," Wallis told 20/20. 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