compyguy85
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan
Ok, first post here. Bit of a long story and am looking for a little advice.
I have two children. A boy, who is 2.5, and a girl, who is 14 months. My daughter was born 6 weeks early, not breathing, deaf (at first) and extremely small. (She is now happy, healthy, walking, and completely on track with where she should be). On day 2 I was pulled out of the NICU by a Children's Protective Services (CPS) agent who rather bluntly asked me if I was using drugs. At the time I was a successful engineer, devoted husband and father, homeowner, and, to the best of my knowledge, had never even been in the same room with any kind of hard drugs (I don't even drink for goodness sake). She said that my daughter was born positive for Meth, THC (marijuana), amphetamines (Aderol) and PCP (angel dust). I was floored and at first challenged this horrible accusation. They said if I did not submit to, and pass, a drug screen that they would kick me out of the hospital and that they would be taking my son (who was at home with a babysitter) from me that night to be placed with family or foster care. Obviously I immediately did the test and brought them to my home to inspect it. I passed (of course) and so did my home. The next day we had an emergency court session where the children were placed in my care and my wife was court-ordered out of the home, placed on supervised visits, and had to submit to regular drug testing, parenting classes, and counseling. She was also placed on the central registry for child abuse and neglect. I was absolutely furious with her. She relapsed several times, which drug out the investigation. She ended up not seeing the kids for almost 5 months. Finally she managed to pass enough screens to get CPS to allow her to move back in and she begged me to give her a chance and be with her family. Despite still being very furious with her I relented and she moved back in. It took all of 3 weeks for her to relapse again and she was ordered out of the house and placed on supervised visits again. Well about 3 months ago they closed the case finally and she moved back in, again, despite my reservations. I mostly just wanted to keep my family together. Well I caught her smoking meth in the living room with another man with both the kids locked in their room. I called CPS on her and they didn't respond, though I did inform her that if it happened again she would be gone and that now she needed to go to rehab. She refused. And then it happened again, with another man. This time he put his hands down her pants (I have a camera now that I can remotely view from work...that's how I caught her). I blew up at her again and called CPS again. Nothing. Well finally 3 weeks ago SHE DID THE SAME THING IN MY BEDROOM!!! Only this time it was so bad (they were smoking, kids were screaming in the bedroom, they then had sex, and she actually HIT MY SON when he opened the door). I sent the police over while I wrapped up enough at work to speed home. CPS is involved again, though she left so they wont open a new case against her, simply told her to stay away.
So, I have finally given up on her and she hasn't seen the kids since it happened. I don't even know really where she is and last I heard she is staying in a MC clubhouse known for meth-dealing and is telling people that she is going to have them kill me. I have a meeting with a lawyer next week for a consultation. Her grandmother has called me twice now to tell me that if I file for divorce that she will hire an attorney (and she has the money) to get full custody of the children and that in michigan I have zero chance of getting anything other than weekend visitation with my kids because they are so young and I work full time (I switched to nights as it is easier to find babysitters and I can be with the kids, albeit a little sleep-deprived, during the day, but I'm a combat vet so sleep is something I am used to operating without). I have had both of my children their entire lives, even when she didn't see them for months on end, and if you add up the time she has spent more than half of my 14 month old daughters life away. When she is with them she yells at them, hits them, and locks them in their rooms to do drugs. I would like to think that since I had her from infancy until 5 months old by myself, and have been with them their entire lives and am very devoted that I have a good chance for custody but I am unsure. Any help would be great.
Ok, first post here. Bit of a long story and am looking for a little advice.
I have two children. A boy, who is 2.5, and a girl, who is 14 months. My daughter was born 6 weeks early, not breathing, deaf (at first) and extremely small. (She is now happy, healthy, walking, and completely on track with where she should be). On day 2 I was pulled out of the NICU by a Children's Protective Services (CPS) agent who rather bluntly asked me if I was using drugs. At the time I was a successful engineer, devoted husband and father, homeowner, and, to the best of my knowledge, had never even been in the same room with any kind of hard drugs (I don't even drink for goodness sake). She said that my daughter was born positive for Meth, THC (marijuana), amphetamines (Aderol) and PCP (angel dust). I was floored and at first challenged this horrible accusation. They said if I did not submit to, and pass, a drug screen that they would kick me out of the hospital and that they would be taking my son (who was at home with a babysitter) from me that night to be placed with family or foster care. Obviously I immediately did the test and brought them to my home to inspect it. I passed (of course) and so did my home. The next day we had an emergency court session where the children were placed in my care and my wife was court-ordered out of the home, placed on supervised visits, and had to submit to regular drug testing, parenting classes, and counseling. She was also placed on the central registry for child abuse and neglect. I was absolutely furious with her. She relapsed several times, which drug out the investigation. She ended up not seeing the kids for almost 5 months. Finally she managed to pass enough screens to get CPS to allow her to move back in and she begged me to give her a chance and be with her family. Despite still being very furious with her I relented and she moved back in. It took all of 3 weeks for her to relapse again and she was ordered out of the house and placed on supervised visits again. Well about 3 months ago they closed the case finally and she moved back in, again, despite my reservations. I mostly just wanted to keep my family together. Well I caught her smoking meth in the living room with another man with both the kids locked in their room. I called CPS on her and they didn't respond, though I did inform her that if it happened again she would be gone and that now she needed to go to rehab. She refused. And then it happened again, with another man. This time he put his hands down her pants (I have a camera now that I can remotely view from work...that's how I caught her). I blew up at her again and called CPS again. Nothing. Well finally 3 weeks ago SHE DID THE SAME THING IN MY BEDROOM!!! Only this time it was so bad (they were smoking, kids were screaming in the bedroom, they then had sex, and she actually HIT MY SON when he opened the door). I sent the police over while I wrapped up enough at work to speed home. CPS is involved again, though she left so they wont open a new case against her, simply told her to stay away.
So, I have finally given up on her and she hasn't seen the kids since it happened. I don't even know really where she is and last I heard she is staying in a MC clubhouse known for meth-dealing and is telling people that she is going to have them kill me. I have a meeting with a lawyer next week for a consultation. Her grandmother has called me twice now to tell me that if I file for divorce that she will hire an attorney (and she has the money) to get full custody of the children and that in michigan I have zero chance of getting anything other than weekend visitation with my kids because they are so young and I work full time (I switched to nights as it is easier to find babysitters and I can be with the kids, albeit a little sleep-deprived, during the day, but I'm a combat vet so sleep is something I am used to operating without). I have had both of my children their entire lives, even when she didn't see them for months on end, and if you add up the time she has spent more than half of my 14 month old daughters life away. When she is with them she yells at them, hits them, and locks them in their rooms to do drugs. I would like to think that since I had her from infancy until 5 months old by myself, and have been with them their entire lives and am very devoted that I have a good chance for custody but I am unsure. Any help would be great.
