Tragedy Strikes for Hundreds of Texan Families

On Friday, April 4th, 2008 tragedy struck in Texas. Based on several phone calls from a woman claiming that she was in an FLDS compound, that she was forced to marry Dale Barlow (a convicted sex offender), that she was forced to carry and give birth to his child, and that she was beaten and raped by Dale Barlow. She claimed she is 15 or 16 years old and that her child is 8 months old.

Without verifying the caller's claims, the state and federal authorities obtained search warrants and entered the FLDS compound. State officials removed 416 children from the compound and allowed their mothers to join them, though the mothers were not in custody. The children and their mothers were taken to a shelter with limited space, limited facilities, and under armed guard.

Children were interrogated by police, child welfare workers, and mental health workers all claiming to be trying to "learn the truth" and that it was in the "best interest of the child". The children were also subjected to physical examination so officials could determine if sexual abuse had occurred. These types of examinations are traumatic to children, who don't really understand what is happening to them.

Soon the women were required to give up their cell phones to authorities. Even though the women were not in custody, their only means of communication to the outside world was taken from them. They no longer had access to their attorneys, husbands, friends, or extended family members. They were isolated and alone, with their frightened children.

About a week later the authorities took the women away from their children. They allowed mothers with children under the age of 5 to remain at the shelter and forced the rest of the mothers to leave.

The trial has begun. In this trial, a judge has to determine if child welfare officials have just cause to keep the children separated from their families. Over 350 attorneys are involved. Parties to the case are in several locations, participating through satellite linkups.

Historically, child welfare officials will remove children from their homes on the slightest indication of possible abuse. If they are unable to find proof, they can still keep the children from their families by claiming two things: There is a threat of harm in the child's home and it is in the child's best interest. The state does not have to prove threat of harm; it only needs to say it exists. The "child's best interest" is a key phrase here. It is taboo to go against what a child welfare official state is in the child's best interest, even if the action is actually harmful or traumatic to the child. Parents will lose their children if they cannot prove that going home is in their child's best interest. This is often difficult for parents who do not understand how it works.

At this time, no allegations of abuse have been substantiated. No allegations of neglect have been substantiated. Investigation continues into Dale Barlow, but at this point it appears he has not been in Texas for many years, does not know his accuser, and could not possibly be the father of an 8 month old child. The woman who made the allegations has not come forward and was not found at the compound. It looks like the calls were a hoax, yet the state of Texas plans to keep the children.