Father abandons nine children at Neb. hospital under 'safe haven' law

[bijou]

A father abandoned nine children last night at a hospital in Omaha. The children, who were left at Creighton University Medical Center under the provisions of Nebraska's "Safe Haven" law, range in age from 1 to 17, according to the Omaha World-Herald.

Under the new law, anyone who drops a child off at a hospital can't be prosecuted. (Here's the full text of the law.)

"The safe haven law was intended to protect unwanted newborns, but Nebraska's law does not set an age limit on children who can be left at hospitals," the paper says. "Many have interpreted that to mean children up to age 19 can be dropped off." ...

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/09/father-abandons.html

[Flame]

You know, I'm OK with this.  Sure, the dad is an ass, but better to drop them off at a hospital than to kill them all.

[franksolich]

The law of unanticipated consequences, my favorite law.

Nebraska had been the last of 50 states to enact this sort of law, and one supposed the state legislators had 49 models which to copy.  But no, this being Nebraska, the state legislators decided to do it their own way, using no model at all.

When finally enacted, the law inadvertently included all minor children (i.e., not just infants) up to the age of 18 years.

There've been three other instances of this, but involving three different parents, one kid each.

We'll see how it goes.  Most here in Nebraska are pretty mellow and laid-back about it.  We'll see how it goes.

[DumbAss Tanker]

I'm with Flame on this.  Anybody who would do it shouldn't have the kids, and they are all safe, so it's a net plus.  I'm sure the state will pursue whatever resources the guy can contribute in a civil action.   

[Thor]

I think that kids 16 years of age and older should be emancipated if they wanted that.

[Zeus]

I'm with Flame on this.  Anybody who would do it shouldn't have the kids, and they are all safe, so it's a net plus.  I'm sure the state will pursue whatever resources the guy can contribute in a civil action.   

With nine Kids I'm guessing going after the dudes 'Resources" would be a wasted effort.

[debk]

I'm with Flame, too....better dropped off than he kill them. Which was probably next.

Hopefully the older ones will keep track of the younger ones if they are split up. Not to many people can take on 9 children at once.

[mamacags]

It amazes me that a relative wouldn't take them in.  I don't care how little our house is if my in laws wanted rid of their kids I would find a place for them here.

I wonder if the father and the kids are American citizens?  The article doesn't say.

[Chris_]

That is seriously ****ed up. This piece of shit 'father' is the one who needs to be in a hospital. Preferably, a psychiatric one.

[rich_t]

It would be nice to have more details on this story.

Hopefully these kids won't end up in a series of abusive foster homes.

[Airwolf]

The only thing I can say is I just hope they didn;t just wake up and decided to dump them off like some people do pets. The younger ones wouldn't understand and the older kids would and resent the parents far more.

[rich_t]

The article doesn't mention another parent.  Just the father.  But I do agree with your point Airwolf.

[bijou]

Some more information on how the law is panning out

...Nine of the children came from one family. The six boys and three girls were left by their father, who was not identified, at Creighton University Medical Center's emergency room. Unrelated boys ages 11 and 15 also were surrendered Wednesday at Immanuel Medical Center.
...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,428022,00.html

It does seem that at best only a couple of the 11 children could generously be described as babies, which I assumed the law was intended to help.

[Miss Mia]

Father Talks About Abandoning His 9 Kids
Recent Cases Involving Teens Test Nebraska's Safe Haven Law

OMAHA, Neb. -- The mother of nine kids left at an emergency room in Creighton University Medical Center died from a brain aneurysm 17 months ago, days after delivering the youngest child, said the father.

Gary Staton dropped off his kids Wednesday night at 8 p.m., officials at the Department of Health and Human Services said.

"I was with her for 17 years, and then she was gone. What was I going to do?" Staton said. "We raised them together. I didn't think I could do it alone. I fell apart. I couldn't take care of them."

Staton said he was overwhelmed by his family responsibilities and had to quit his job. He said he couldn't pay the rent or utilities.

"I was able to get the kids to a safe place before they were homeless," he said.

-snip-

[Lanie]

I'm with Flame on this.  Anybody who would do it shouldn't have the kids, and they are all safe, so it's a net plus.  I'm sure the state will pursue whatever resources the guy can contribute in a civil action.   

With nine Kids I'm guessing going after the dudes 'Resources" would be a wasted effort.

Maybe that's the thing. Maybe he really couldn't afford nine kids.

[mamacags]

I can't even imagine how much of a check you get from welfare for 9 kids.  Between food stamps, social security, WIC, welfare and clothing vouchers I think he could manage.  I don't think he ever put much thought into how much work his wife had to do with the 8 they had before the 9th birth killed her.  It is easy to go to work and make money if someone else is doing all of the hard work at home.  I just want to hug all of those kids.

[Inga]

I agree with Flame also. But you really don't know the situation unless you walk in their shoes.I hope the children will get to stay in touch with each other. I prayer the children will be blessed in getting good foster homes.

During the depression my grandmother that was born and her mother died in the process. My grandfather was out of work and had to leave to look for work(are so said) left my grandmother with and aunt. She had lots of kids. She had very little food and lived in a very small house. Desperation set in,she was sold her off to a traveling salesman for food money. From the age of 10 to 33 we had no trace of her. So GOD BLESS those children.

[franksolich]

I can't even imagine how much of a check you get from welfare for 9 kids.  Between food stamps, social security, WIC, welfare and clothing vouchers I think he could manage.  I don't think he ever put much thought into how much work his wife had to do with the 8 they had before the 9th birth killed her.  It is easy to go to work and make money if someone else is doing all of the hard work at home.  I just want to hug all of those kids.

According to the Omaha World-Herald, the guy has some problems.

Apparently he tried to cope for a while after his wife died, and the oldest daughter took care of the younger kids, getting them fed, to bed, to school, to doing their homework.  Incredibly, the oldest daughter managed to graduate from high school with honors, and a year early at that.

But it was just too much; the father reminds one very much of the worthless freeloading bum the wily primitive, although unlike the wily primitive, his kids all had the exact same mother.

The father and the mother were apparently results of the Age of Aquarius, although it does appear they remained monogamous and married circa 20 years until she died.

The father left Omaha last night (Thursday night), in a vehicle with a hot chick.

However, it appears that even if one abandons such children under this law, this does NOT alleviate him of any financial responsibilities.  Wherever the father goes, he's going to be docked for support.

[Chris_]

I can't even imagine how much of a check you get from welfare for 9 kids.  Between food stamps, social security, WIC, welfare and clothing vouchers I think he could manage.  I don't think he ever put much thought into how much work his wife had to do with the 8 they had before the 9th birth killed her.  It is easy to go to work and make money if someone else is doing all of the hard work at home.  I just want to hug all of those kids.

According to the Omaha World-Herald, the guy has some problems.

Apparently he tried to cope for a while after his wife died, and the oldest daughter took care of the younger kids, getting them fed, to bed, to school, to doing their homework.  Incredibly, the oldest daughter managed to graduate from high school with honors, and a year early at that.

But it was just too much; the father reminds one very much of the worthless freeloading bum the wily primitive, although unlike the wily primitive, his kids all had the exact same mother.

The father and the mother were apparently results of the Age of Aquarius, although it does appear they remained monogamous and married circa 20 years until she died.

The father left Omaha last night (Thursday night), in a vehicle with a hot chick.

However, it appears that even if one abandons such children under this law, this does NOT alleviate him of any financial responsibilities.  Wherever the father goes, he's going to be docked for support.

They'll just wait for him to leave Nebraska, then look for some federal law to get him under.

[Airwolf]

1110 AM KFAB  in Omaha reported today that relatives of the kids are seeking to gain custody of the children pending a judges approval.

[Flame]

1110 AM KFAB  in Omaha reported today that relatives of the kids are seeking to gain custody of the children pending a judges approval.

that is good news!

[franksolich]

1110 AM KFAB  in Omaha reported today that relatives of the kids are seeking to gain custody of the children pending a judges approval.

that is good news!

Yeah, these are aunts and uncles and cousins of the kids.

I however thought it was hilarious that they all have to go through some sort of intensive background check before any of the kids are released to them, as if they're strangers to each other.

[bijou]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gU_lifEWX5KODWJ-k3FlgP_SiE-wD93IEBNG0

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The grandparents of nine children who were given up by their father under Nebraska's unique safe-haven law said Thursday that they wished he would have come to them for help.

Jack Manzer told NBC's "Today" show that his son-in-law, Gary Staton, could have brought the children, ages 1 to 17, to his house.

Manzer said Staton asked for help in the past.

"We don't understand," said Manzer's wife, Joanne. "We would have liked him to come to us for help."

Instead, Staton left nine of his 10 children at Creighton University Medical Center last week under the new safe-haven law. He did not bring his oldest daughter, 18-year-old Amoria Micek.

Staton said he surrendered the children because he was overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for them since his wife, the Manzer's daughter, died early last year.

Micek told "Today" that her father was worried about losing their home.

"He was more overwhelmed and didn't know how to handle the situation," she said.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has tried to place the nine siblings with relatives until permanent custody is decided. Seven were taken in by an aunt, but a Douglas County judge on Wednesday ordered them back to foster care. She said some of the children were sharing beds while others slept on air mattresses.
The state has appealed the order, saying it's in the children's best interests to stay together with a relative.

The two oldest children chose to go to another home to avoid changing schools.

...

Air mattresses? Oh the humanity. That judge is an ass, it's far better for the children to be together within the family than to be in foster care.

[MrsSmith]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gU_lifEWX5KODWJ-k3FlgP_SiE-wD93IEBNG0

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The grandparents of nine children who were given up by their father under Nebraska's unique safe-haven law said Thursday that they wished he would have come to them for help.

Jack Manzer told NBC's "Today" show that his son-in-law, Gary Staton, could have brought the children, ages 1 to 17, to his house.

Manzer said Staton asked for help in the past.

"We don't understand," said Manzer's wife, Joanne. "We would have liked him to come to us for help."

Instead, Staton left nine of his 10 children at Creighton University Medical Center last week under the new safe-haven law. He did not bring his oldest daughter, 18-year-old Amoria Micek.

Staton said he surrendered the children because he was overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for them since his wife, the Manzer's daughter, died early last year.

Micek told "Today" that her father was worried about losing their home.

"He was more overwhelmed and didn't know how to handle the situation," she said.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has tried to place the nine siblings with relatives until permanent custody is decided. Seven were taken in by an aunt, but a Douglas County judge on Wednesday ordered them back to foster care. She said some of the children were sharing beds while others slept on air mattresses.
The state has appealed the order, saying it's in the children's best interests to stay together with a relative.

The two oldest children chose to go to another home to avoid changing schools.

...

Air mattresses? Oh the humanity. That judge is an ass, it's far better for the children to be together within the family than to be in foster care.

Way better.  Sheesh, my kids LIKED to share beds when they were little - it made the dark so much less scary.  And now, when we have my kids, Mr Smith's kids and grandkids all here, they fight over who "gets" to sleep on the air mattresses.  I hope a lot of Nebraskans pat this aunt on the back and tell that judge to shove it.