Foster mother has been charged with involuntary manslaughter andsecond-degree child abuse in connection with his death, but no one has beencharged with the fatal beating....

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Judge terminates parental rights for Lethbridges

March 30, 2007

By JACK KRESNAK

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

A Washtenaw County judge decided today that Matt and Jennifer
Lethbridge, whose nine children all have landed in foster care, will not
be reunited with their two youngest children.

Family Court Judge Darlene O’Brien ordered the couple’s parental rights
to their 11-month-old daughter terminated, but she did not end their
rights to their 4-year-old daughter, saying it would not be in the
child’s best interest. Instead, the judge ordered the child’s current
foster parents in Washtenaw County to consider becoming her permanent
guardians.

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O’Brien said the girl “would have the benefit of continuing to have her
parents in her life, but she wouldn’t leave the foster parents’ home.
She would be raised by them.”

The Washtenaw County foster parents have expressed an interest in
adopting the girl’s 11-month-old sister.

The 4-year-old was in foster care in Detroit with her 2-year-old brother
Isaac when he was killed in his foster mother’s home last August.

On hearing the ruling, Matt Lethbridge, 33, initially broke down and
then appeared confused about the implications. He said he and his wife
would try to keep a relationship with the 4-year-old through her foster
parents.

Six of the Lethbridges’ older children were removed from their care
after complaints involving neglect. All were later adopted. Isaac and
the 4-year-old landed in foster care in 2005, and an infant daughter
born last April was placed in foster care almost immediately. The
couple’s 10th child is due next month. Washtenaw County authorities plan
to file a petition to remove that child after its birth.

The Lethbridges, who now live in Canton, had contended that they have
matured as parents and recognize why their children were removed from
their care. Among the past problems: Their homes were filthy and there
were signs of emotional and medical neglect of the children.

Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor Stacie Shaw told the court that
the couple’s living conditions get worse when authorities are no longer
involved with the family. “Their history and their actions speak louder
than their words,” Shaw said, adding, “I don’t doubt in my heart that
the parents truly love both of these girls,” but the risk is too great
to entrust the children to their care.

The children’s attorney, S. Joy Gaines, also asked O’Brien to terminate
the Lethbridges’ parental rights.

“I’m clear that they love their children and that they want to be
parents,” Gaines said, but “with the extensive protective services
history, there are more issues than just cleanliness. There are real
mental health issues.” She also said it would not be good to move the
4-year-old, who is in her fourth foster home, again.

Earlier today, O’Brien heard testimony from Washtenaw County Protective
Services worker Joseph Lanczki who said, despite the family’s long
history of involvement with protective services and the juvenile court
dating to 1997, things had not improved by September 2005, when Isaac
and his 4-year-old sister were removed from the Lethbridges’ filthy
Westland home.

“When conditions of the home reach a level of criminality, it’s pretty
severe,” Lanczki said. The couple were charged with misdemeanor child
neglect after the children were removed. Jennifer Lethbridge, now 30,
served 45 days in jail; Matt Lethbridge, now 33, received probation.

Matt Lethbridge, given one last chance to convince the judge to return
his daughters to their care today, said, “We are fanatic cleaners at
this point.
We don’t even think the old way any more. We are not those people any more.”

Jennifer Lethbridge attended today’s hearing by phone. Matt Lethbridge
said he and Jennifer quit smoking last Friday, though he said he cheated
twice after having a vasectomy on Tuesday.

Isaac’s foster mother has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and
second-degree child abuse in connection with his death, but no one has
been charged with the fatal beating. His death was the subject of a
three-day series in the Free Press in January that detailed the failings
of the Lula Belle Stewart Center, the Detroit foster care agency that
handled Isaac’s care, and the state Department of Human Services, which
supervised the agency.




BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEIR
"FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...