Woman wants kids back after social worker marries ex-husband

[The Straight Story]

Woman wants kids back after social worker marries ex-husband


CLEVELAND (AP) -- A woman says she was persuaded to give up custody of her four children by a social worker who secretly dated and later married her ex-husband.

Rochelle Kidd and her lawyer are asking a judge to review how social worker Na'Sheema Hillmon handled the case.

Kidd, 31, was so convinced by conversations with the social worker that her ex-husband was going to gain custody of the kids that she agreed to it, said attorney Josh Barnhizer. His client wants a chance to get her children back and deserves to know if Hillmon influenced county officials in the custody fight, he said.

Hillmon resigned from the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services after the department found out about the marriage. County officials reviewed the file at the time and still believe the children belong with their father and not with Kidd, who acknowledged whipping them with an electrical cord before taking parenting and anger management courses.

"What this worker did is horrendous, in my opinion," said Jim McCafferty, director of the Family Services department, which handled the case. "I'm not trying to defend that. I'm sick over this. All I can say is that as soon as it came to our attention, we took aggressive action on this."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OH_SOCIAL_WORKER_CUSTODY_DISPUTE_OHOL-?SITE=WBNSTV&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[fortyfeetunder]

1. Should go farther than resignation

"Hillmon, 30, said it was a mistake and unprofessional to get romantically involved with Anderson but believes the children are better off because of it.

"I just going to be honest with you and tell you that I fell in love with these kids before I ever knew Victor's name. ...I found happiness, and I'm sorry it was at somebody else's expense," Hillmon said. "But her children are very well taken care of. I do their hair, I do their laundry, and love them to death. I do."

That ex-social worker should be whipped with an electrical cord :sarcasm: Seriously, she should be disbarred from the profession....

[mondo joe]

2. Where's Judge Amy Gray when you need her?