In re Priscilla R. CA4/3

INTRODUCTION

Appellants Nicholas R. and M.K. are the parents of the minor Priscilla R., who was born heavily addicted to the drugs M.K. had been taking during her pregnancy. Nicholas too was addicted to drugs and to alcohol. After Priscilla was born, he saw her in the hospital only once because he did not want to get “attached” to her, and he voiced several times his hope that she could be put up for adoption. He repeatedly disclaimed his readiness for parenthood. Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA) detained Priscilla on the day of her birth. She spent nearly a month in the hospital getting drugs out of her system and was then placed with Nicholas’ mother, who now wishes to adopt her. Between detention and the hearing on the termination of parental rights, Nicholas could not be found. His attorney did not know where he was. Two due diligence searches by SSA failed to locate him. He turned up for an interview by a social worker about a month after Priscilla’s birth and then disappeared again. The dependency hearings went on without him, but with his court-appointed attorney present. Because of their heavy drug use, the juvenile court bypassed reunification services for both…