The System is Broken

Between May 5th and May 27th, the initial case worker (with direct connection to my ex-husband) left DSS and we were assigned a new case worker. Unfortunately for us, this meant basically starting over. All of the documentation that was already provided, all of the photos, all of the notes, everything, had to be provided again because the giant case folder that the previous caseworker had was nowhere to be found.

On May 27, 2022 my boys completed their Forensic Interview which lasted over 3 hours and caused them to once again relive everything that they have had to endure. We were supposed to leave the interview and I was supposed to hand the boys over to their father for the entire weekend. When I arrived at the Bluffton Police Station my oldest son refused to go with his father, he told two police officers that he did not want to go with and that he did not want to speak with his father at that time. Bluffton Police Department did not document this encounter, only listed it in their system as an escort.

Through-out this entire investigation a safety plan was never once put in place even though I constantly requested for one to protect my children.

I finally received the indication in the case and DSS indicated my ex-husband for physical and mental abuse of the children. The crazy part to me is that I was indicated for mental abuse of my oldest child due to an argument with my words. They left out the part where the two arguments that my son spoke about in his interview resulted in physical violence towards me. The first ended with me being choked until I almost passed out, where my son was running toward the door saying he had to get help which is why he remembers it so clearly and the second resulted in me being thrown down a flight of stairs. My ex-husband has been indicted on Domestic Violence charges for this incident.

I appealed the indication in writing and sent the letter to the appeals department in Columbia, SC via certified mail.

After more repeated requests a "safety plan" requesting no corporal punishment was signed by my ex-husband on June 9th. When I got my 4-year-old son back on June 12th he told me that his daddy hit him again. I immediately reached out to DSS to report this incident and on June 13th my son facetimed the case worker and told her that his dad hit him. It is July 14th and nothing has been done about his breach of the Safety Plan.

I met with the DSS Director Ty Murray, a Supervisor Susan and the Legal Representative Thomas Shealy on June 21st. I requested answers in regard to why a safety plan was not put in place until June 9th and why nothing has been done in regard to him violating it. I was met with the excuse of my caseworker going on vacation. I was also promised that Mrs. Murray herself would meet with my ex-husband when he returned from his summer trip with my children and recommend a safety plan with supervised visitation. THIS WAS NOT DONE MORE FALSE PROMISES. I also told them that I had appealed my indication through the proper channels.

I have also requested my file, which is my right, 4 times in writing since June 21st and still have not received it, instead I get the run around and excuses as to why it is not available.

The day after meeting with the DSS office a letter was typed and sent to me stating that the Director looked over my file but their decision to indicate me stands and she was submitting my case to Family Court. Not against my husband for everything that he has done and continues to do but against me. When I called and asked her what the letter meant she told me that I would get the opportunity to tell my case to a judge and they can decide about my indication. This IS NOT PROCEDURE for appeals. The procedure for the appeals process is clearly listed on the DSS website and on July 1st I received a letter from the Appeals Department letting me know that I would be receiving more information in regard to my Administrative Hearing with them. This is in fact proper procedure so why exactly is the Director over-stepping her authority and trying to take me to family court? I have asked her, but she refuses to respond.

Everyone involved in this case is fully aware of the fear and anxiety that my children are going through. Everyone has seen the photos, read the documents, talked with my boys, heard their story, yet still to date nothing has been done to keep them safe. My children have lost faith in the police department because their father told them that he knows all of the police. They have lost faith in a lot of people who promised that they were there to help them throughout this process because they are begging for help, telling their story over and over and still nothing is being done.

Part 4 is on the way!