In re L.J. CA3

BACKGROUND

The minors are twins born in June 2012. On September 20, 2012, the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (Agency) received a referral that maternal grandmother had N.J. in her care. Maternal grandmother said L.J. was with mother in Sacramento, where mother was struggling with postpartum issues and having to care for twins. Maternal grandmother had an extensive child welfare history for abuse and neglect, with approximately 20 referrals in Shasta and Humboldt Counties, and was denied relative placement at least four different times. On September 25, 2012, maternal grandmother told the Agency that mother was doing better and both minors were now in mother’s care. N.J. was admitted to Mercy Medical Center in Redding for dehydration and inconsolable crying on September 26, 2012. The staff had a concern about the minors’ safety after maternal grandmother gave inconsistent stories to staff about who had custody of the minors and lacked documentation to authorize medical treatment. Maternal grandmother subsequently gave inconsistent stories to the police regarding who

2 had custody of the minors. The father, N.J., who had outstanding warrants for absconding from…