In re Maria R. CA2/5

STATEMENT OF FACTS AND PROCEDURE

Three minors are the subject of this dependency proceeding: 15-year-old Maria, 9-year-old Jessica, and Josue, who was 19 months old at the time of the initial detention in October 2012. At that time, father and mother lived together with the three minors, two adult children (Brenda and Luis, Jr. [hereafter “Luis”]), and one grandchild. Proceedings in this case commenced after Luis, who suffers from mental illness issues, twice tried to suffocate Josue with a blanket. On October 24, 2012, the Department of Children and Family Services (Department) detained the three minors from parental custody and filed a petition alleging jurisdiction under section 300, subdivisions (a), (b), and (j), based on multiple factual allegations, including (1) parents’ actions permitting Luis to reside in the home after he had attempted to smother Josue, (2) Luis’s drug abuse, and (3) father’s alcohol abuse. Various reports submitted by the Department describe the factual circumstances leading up to the initial detention, summarized below.

1All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code, unless otherwise indicated.

2The Department has…