In re M.M. CA4/2

FACTS

A. BACKGROUND

Mother and M.S.M. (Father)1 share two children: N.M., a boy who was six years

old in December 2022, and M.M., a girl who was four years old in December 2022.

Mother and Father divorced in July 2022; however, Mother, Father, and the two

children continued to live together. Their house is a second home owned by Father’s

parents. Father suffers from untreated bipolar disorder with psychotic delusions. On

various occasions, Father has hit Mother in the presence of the children and locked

Mother in rooms. Mother did not move out of the house “due to lack of finances.”

Father refused to move out of the house because his parents owned the house.

1 Father is not a party to the appeal.

B. DETENTION

On December 15, 2022, Father arrived home and began arguing with Mother in

front of M.M. Father summoned Mother into a bathroom and threatened to rape her. In

response, Mother slapped Father in an attempt to move him away from her. Police

arrested Mother. The Department detained the children.

C. JURISDICTION

On February 14, 2023, the juvenile court found true the allegations that:

(1) Mother engages in domestic violence with Father while in…